League One side Leyton Orient have received hugely frustrating news this evening with confirmation that Scottish winger Theo Archibald will miss the remainder of the season through injury.
After sustaining a knee injury last season that ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign, Archibald signed a one-year deal in the summer with the hope that he would be able to return at some point in the season, with the Scotsman really nailing down his first team place in the last few seasons with his pace, direct running as creativity.
The O’s have had a slow start to the new campaign, with just four wins from fourteen matches, and the East London outfit find themselves just above the relegation zone as we approach the busy festive period.
Archibald is a player who was comfortable on both wings and can even play as a left full-back or wingback, so to have him ruled out for the rest of the season is a huge blow, especially when Orient boss Richie Wellens told supporters at a fans forum that he was hoping to have him back before January.
But Via the player’s official Instagram page, he personally announced that he will be unable to contribute on the pitch for the club for the rest of the season, raising doubts over his future at the club with the one-year deal he was originally given that contract off the basis that he could get his career back on track.
Archibald has made 116 appearances for Orient after originally joining on loan from Lincoln City, before making the permanent switch in the summer of 2022. He’s also scored 15 goals for the club, including some memorable strikes in big moments in the League Two title-winning side of 2023, and on his return to the third tier.
Writers View
Undoubtedly Theo Archibald will be a massive miss for Leyton Orient, a side who have really struggled in front of goal this season without his attacking presence, you could argue that this setback on top of the struggle to get Jordan Graham back to full fitness means that the transfer committee will need to sign an experienced winger who can help propel them up the league.
Everyone at The Real EFL wishes The Scotsman a speedy and safe recovery as he embarks on his period of further surgery, and hope to see him back in action as soon as possible.
