Young Watford talent Shaqai Forde has stated that he is so far enjoying his loan spell at Leyton Orient whilst speaking to club media ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Bristol Rovers for the East London outfit.
The 19-year-old forward spent the second half of last season on loan at National League side York City and caught the eye of multiple EFL clubs during his short spell for the Minstermen, scoring nine goals that were vital in steering them away from relegation back to the National League North.
After returning to Watford for pre-season in the summer, the Hornets decided another loan down the footballing pyramid would help develop his career, sending him to League One outfit Leyton Orient.
Forde has had to be patient in an O’s shirt but has taken his chance when it has come to him with some important goals, none more than rescuing a point in the 97th minute at Northampton Town to salvage a 2-2 draw last month. After being recalled to play from the start against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, Shaq had undoubtedly his best performance leading the line at Brisbane Road, also adding a third goal of the season by creating a chance out of very little and curling a right-footed effort into the top corner of the visitors net.
The youngster, in his interview previewing tonight’s fixture, describes what the loan spell has been like for him so far, saying: “I feel like I have grown a lot as a player and a person,” and he is adapting well to life in E10 under Richie Wellens. “I enjoy it. I love training with these boys,” he continued.
Orient boss Wellens will be hoping that his recent form can be the springboard that the on-loan front man will need to nail down the number nine role going into a busy festive period, something his other forwards Joe Pigott and Aaron Drinan have not yet been able to do this campaign.
His attacking options have also been boosted by the earlier-than-planned return of new signing Daniel Agyei, who made his long-awaited debut off the bench at the weekend after picking up an injury after signing from Crewe Alexandra in the summer.
The answer to Orient’s wastefulness in front of goal this season could be their on-loan man who after his impressive performance on the weekend, will be hoping to kick on and make the role as main striker his own.
Writer’s View
Shaqai is definitely a player who on his day has the quality to individually win a game on his own with his sheer pace, determination and ability to find the back of the net, and will hope that he can impress at Leyton Orient as much as he did at York City last season where plenty of supporters were talking about how far he can go in the game.
Focusing on his loan spell in East London, with none of Orient’s current strikers being able to hit a streak of goalscoring form, Forde has a great chance to find his feet at the right time, going into a month where a lot of matches will be played during the festive period.
