Richie Wellens has confirmed where late Leyton Orient transfer focus is after cruel blow | OneFootball

Omar Beckles' cruel injury blow could lead to a change in transfer plans this month.

Omar Beckles has been a monstrous presence in the Leyton Orient backline this season.

The defender has been an ever-present force in the side, featuring in all bar one of the O's league fixtures this season.

However, Beckles was substituted in the 55th minute of the O's 6-2 thumping away at Exeter City, with what looked like a nasty injury.

Wellens seemed pessimistic about Orient injury situation

Speaking post match following the game on Tuesday, manager Richie Wellens stated: "Beckles, we think is a hamstring. The schedule is brutal, isn't it?

"It's a shame because at the moment I think if we didn't have injuries, no one could stop us. But it's something we need to control, and now, instead of needing one or two, we might need three or four, depending on what those injuries look like.

"I don't think we can go through the rest of the season with just Dan Happe and Brandon Cooper. Obviously, Jack Simpson is injured as well."

This puts the O's in a perilous position with only a handful of days left in the transfer window, and some crucial fixtures in both the league and cup in the upcoming weeks.

In the weeks leading up to Beckles' injury, the majority of speculation regarding the transfer plans in E10 were regarding the forward areas, with the loan signing of Dilan Markanday and reports linking Orient with a move for Oxford United winger Owen Dale.

However, with this injury news, it appears as though the O's will have to shift their plans to include some defensive reinforcement. Wellens is indicating that's the case, stressing the fact it might even be that more than one signing is needed.

Orient will most likely have to search for a permanent deal

As things stand, the O's already have a surplus of loan players in the squad - which has led to one loanee having to be left out of the matchday squad every game this season.

Despite it being reported that the club are closing in on a permanent deal for current loanee Sonny Perkins, a permanent move would still keep the O's at the matchday limit of five, and another loan player would leave the club with the same problem.

This will most likely force the O's into looking for a permanent replacement to cover for Beckles' injury - something they haven't been shy of doing with the recent acquisition of Azeem Abdulai from Swansea City following injury to winger Ollie O'Neill.

Even if Orient aren't able to get a defender in before Monday's deadline, they will still have the freedom of free agents as they did last season with the signing of Jack Simpson in February of last year. Defenders such as Nathan Ferguson, James Tomkins and Sean Morrison have all been available since being released by their previous clubs last summer.

With Beckles' mostly being regarded for his leadership and character, it is likely that Orient will want to bring in a veteran with plenty of EFL experience in order to fill the void created by Beckles' injury.

With the O's being in such fine form as of late, picking up 29 points from their last 33 available and sitting in the play-off places in League One, they will be eager to make any possible additions as soon as possible in order to keep the momentum going into the final few months of the campaign.

An injury to Beckles might have slightly altered the picture in terms of personnel and number of players Orient target, yet the overall aim is the same: keep the momentum going via shrewd late transfer decisions.