With Josh Coulson out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury, Justin Edinburgh has a decision to make. Which centre back should he chose to come in for Super Josh?
Fortunately, the strength in depth in the O’s squad is giving Justin the right kind of selection headache. There is an argument to be made for both. In this piece Andrew makes the case for Justin Edinburgh to give George Elokobi the nod ahead of Dan Happe in the O’s next few games.
Coulson and Ekpiteta are the backbone of the joint-best defence in the National League - Orient have conceded just 20 goals this season. Coulson brings over a decade of experience, over 350 senior appearances, while Ekpiteta has mobility and skill to play out from the back. Both have saved the O’s goal several times this season.
A partnership with youth and experience at its heart sticks to the formula that has worked well for Orient this season.
If Edinburgh is looking to maintain that balance at the back, then Elokobi has over 250 matches under his belt in all competitions - over 50 of those at Premier League level with Wolves.
Orient’s next league opponents are Ebbsfleet United. They are enjoying a run of good form and scored 14 goals in their last five games.
Last season at Brisbane Road Elokobi started, and kept Ebbsfleet’s top scorer Danny Kedwell on a tight leash. The sturdy Fleet striker was easily beaten for pace by Elokobi.
Kedwell is a big unit and Elokobi has the strength to keep him at bay. With the O’s conceding two from set pieces against Salford, this is an area Justin Edinburgh may be looking at.
And it is not just Orient’s penalty area that the manager might be taking into consideration. Coulson is one of the O’s main goal threats at set-pieces Elokobi has scored a few goals at Orient, including in his last appearance against Beaconsfield.
If selected, Elokobi has a chance to prove himself against Wrexham in the FA Trophy, where there was always a possibility that Coulson and Ekpiteta would be rested whatever happened. If He performs well against the Dragons then he will have earned the right to start in the League against Ebbsfleet on 19th January.
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