‘We have started a run and need to keep it going’ says on-loan midfielder

On-loan midfielder Tom Clarke wants Orient to follow in the footsteps of Huddersfield Town.

Clarke joined the O’s in September from the Terriers and was delighted when his parent club set a Football League record at the weekend.

Town’s 2-1 win against Notts County saw Huddersfield stretch their unbeaten league run to 43 games and Clarke said: “I’m delighted they have done it, it’s good for them.”

While Clarke has played a peripheral role in Town’s unbelievable run, he has helped the O’s climb off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone.

Saturday’s goalless draw with Stevenage saw Orient stretch their own unbeaten league run to nine games and Clarke would love the O’s to emulate Huddersfield’s feat.

“We have started a run here now and we need to keep it going,” said Clarke.

However, the O’s will face their stiffest test yet as they look to keep their unbeaten tag when they head to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

“It’s a big game and that’s what players want,” said Clarke.

“Big games and big crowds and hopefully we will rise to the occasion.”

Orient’s recent good run has lifted them to 17th and they are four points clear of the drop zone, but Clarke knows the side cannot afford to take their foot off the throttle.

“It’s still very tight and we have got to keep on this unbeaten run and if we do we will soon be up there again,” he said.

The Halifax-born midfielder celebrates his 24th birthday next month and is enjoying his loan stint at Orient, but is unsure as to what the future holds.

He has made 10 starts since his move from Yorkshire and admitted: “I’m enjoying my time here and I’m playing games and that’s what I want.

“I was disappointed not to play in the Cup, but that’s what Huddersfield wanted.”

But Clarke, who has made 66 league starts for the Terriers, remained non-committal about his long term future.

“We will have to wait and see,” he said.