Team news: Leyton Orient (14/09/2008)

The team sheets are in for this afternoon’s clash against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road, and manager Jim Gannon has made five changes from the side that  played Port Vale in the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy 11 days ago.

The Hatters haven’t been in action since beating Vale 1-0 in the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy on Tuesday 7th September and that break has given a few of Jim Gannon’s first team squad the chance to recover from injury. Winger Anthony Pilkington (ankle), midfielder Dominic Blizzard and Tommy Rowe (both hamstring) all missed the victory over Port Vale through injury although they are fit to face Orient this afternoon. Striker Peter Thompson is also back in the starting line up after missing the last game through International duty. Skipper Gareth Owen is also included in the starting line up after he was left on the bench for the 1-0 win over Vale.

Left back Michael Rose and midfielders Matty Mainwaring, James Vincent, Paul Turnbull and Carl Baker have all been dropped by Gannon with Baker set to miss around two weeks of action after picking up an ankle injury during training.

The Hatters line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation with Owain fon Williams in goals with a back four of Leon McSweeney, Gareth Owen, James Tunnicliffe and Jimmy McNulty. Gary Dicker, Michael Raynes and Dominic Blizzard are in midfield with Anthony Pilkington and Tommy Rowe supporting striker Peter Thompson.

Starting XI: Fon Williams, McSweeney, Tunnicliffe, Owen, McNulty, Dicker, Raynes, Blizzard, Pilkington, Thompson, Rowe. Subs: Rigby, Rose, Gleeson, Turnbull, Vincent