Head coach Justin Edinburgh indicated that George Elokobi and Joe Widdowson may not feature again for Leyton Orient this season after the duo missed Saturday’s game due to injury. 

Influential defender Elokobi was replaced by Dan Happe in midweek after he limped off on the stroke of half time against Hartlepool United with a thigh strain, while Widdowson confirmed to the Guardian Series that he had been nursing a similar problem for a few weeks, which ultimately kept him out of the win over Wrexham.

Both players have been key for Orient this season after joining from Colchester United and Dagenham and Redbridge respectively last summer, with Widdowson being one of five players nominated for the O’s Player-of-the-Season award after his consistent performances at left-back.

But while Elokobi’s injury may not be as serious as first thought, Edinburgh indicated that neither player may be risked in the O’s final games of the season, especially after the impressive displays by Happe, Marvin Ekpiteta and Myles Judd at the weekend.

Edinburgh said: “George pulled up on Tuesday night with a thigh strain but it’s not as bad as we first thought. That’s good news.

“Joe is suffering from the same. He’s got a little bit of a thigh strain. At this stage, with the young players doing what they are doing, they’re not going to lose their place if they play like that.”