Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens has made no secret of his desire to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes, identifying a left-back and a central midfielder as his most pressing targets as the third-tier season gets under way.

A clear wish-list

Speaking to BBC Radio London, Wellens was candid about the balance he is trying to strike between developing younger players and competing for results in League One right now. "We've got players learning the game, and that's fine, but I want to win now as well," he said. "I don't want to be that guy that just develops players, and we win one, then we lose one, then we win one and we lose one. You're always fighting [for consistency]."

He was equally direct about the positions he needs to fill. "We probably need a left-back because Somto [Boniface, on loan from Ipswich] is going to be out for eight to 10 weeks," Wellens explained. Boniface, he noted, had already made a strong impression before picking up the injury. With that cover gone, finding a replacement has become a matter of some urgency for Orient.

The other gap Wellens flagged is in central midfield. "I'm short in midfield. I need an eight," he said, using the positional shorthand for a box-to-box midfielder. The suggestion is that Orient's current options at the base of the pitch lack the know-how and physicality required at this level.

Outgoings may dictate incomings

Wellens tempered expectations by acknowledging that recruitment is likely to be contingent on the club moving players out first. "We need one or two more players that are ready for the here and now. But it's probably going to depend on if we can get some out," he said. That framing will be familiar to supporters of clubs operating in the third tier, where wage budgets are tight and squad management often involves moving in both directions simultaneously.

His comments follow what has been a mixed start to the campaign for Orient. The O's beat Oxford United in the EFL Cup first round, a result that offered some early encouragement, but they then fell to defeat in their League One opener against Sheffield Wednesday. A subsequent EFL Trophy group-stage win over AFC Wimbledon, settled on penalties, gave the squad another run-out, though Wellens was pointed in his assessment of the performance, calling the first half "poor" and "boring".

The bigger picture

The comments paint a picture of a head coach who is under no illusions about what his squad currently lacks. Wellens has a nucleus of young players who will improve with time, but he is clearly of the view that relying solely on that group in League One would leave the club vulnerable to inconsistency. Adding even one or two seasoned heads, he believes, could provide the platform for a more settled run of results.

For Orient supporters, the priority will be watching how quickly the club can move. The left-back berth looks the most urgent need given Boniface's injury timeline of eight to ten weeks, meaning a replacement would need to be brought in promptly to avoid a significant gap in the squad. The search for a creative, combative midfielder to play as an eight adds another layer of complexity to what remains of the window.

Whether Wellens gets the business done is understood to hinge largely on the outgoings picture at Brisbane Road. The head coach appears determined, but he has been transparent that the club's ability to bring players in is not entirely within his control.

Frequently asked

What positions is Richie Wellens looking to sign at Leyton Orient?
Wellens has identified a left-back and a central midfielder (an 'eight') as his primary targets before the transfer window closes.
Why does Leyton Orient need a new left-back?
Loan signing Somto Boniface is expected to be out for eight to ten weeks with an injury, leaving Orient short of cover in that position.
How has Leyton Orient started the League One season?
Orient lost their League One opener against Sheffield Wednesday, though they beat Oxford United in the EFL Cup first round around the same period.