Boss Slade looks forward to friendly clash

Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade is keenly anticipating the friendly visit of New York Cosmos tonight but admits the current team is “an unknown quantity”.

The club was one of the top-name pioneers of soccer in the United States in the 1970s – with world superstars such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto among their ranks.

The original outfit folded in the mid-eighties but the club was re-launched in 2010 and now plays in the North American Soccer League.

Pele remains their honorary president while former Manchester United star Eric Cantona is their director of football.

The Cosmos were beaten 6-0 in a friendly at Old Trafford two years ago.

And O’s boss Slade admits he is intrigued by what his men will come up against at Brisbane Road.

Slade said: “It’s going to be a really interesting game.

“They’re an unknown quantity in many respects and it’s difficult to know exactly what kind of level they’re at.

“But they have got [former Spain midfielder] Marcos Senna – who we obviously hope will play – and they are re-establishing themselves.

“It doesn’t happen very often that an American side comes over here and I’m sure it will be good and competitive game.”

The O’s go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw at Tamworth last Wednesday – when the squad spent four days at a health spa – and a 3-3 draw against Southend, which took place behind closed doors at the League Two side’s Boots & Laces training ground on Saturday.

Kevin Lisbie scored twice and David Mooney the other as Orient went 3-1 ahead before Josh Reece and Mark Carrington added to Dan Fitchett’s opener for the Shrimpers to salvage a draw.

Slade explained: “We originally wanted the game to be played at one of the grounds but neither was available, so we then tried to get a neutral venue.

“That never came to fruition so we ended up playing at their training ground instead.

“We made several changes in the second half and, while we don’t want to be getting sloppy, I was quite happy with the workout.”