On-loan Leeds United youngster scores three in three but progress curtailed by controversial decision

The League One side have hit a purple patch in recent weeks after a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign under head coach Richie Wellens, winning each of their last three outings.

Perkins scored and assisted during a 2-2 draw with National League side Boreham Wood in the FA Cup First Round earlier this month, a game in which the O's progressed to Round Two on penalties.

The 20-year-old was rewarded for his goal contributions with a first league start of the season in Orient's next match, a 3-0 victory over Blackpool in which Perkins opened the scoring.

Then, in EFL Trophy action, Perkins struck again, this time against MK Dons as Leyton Orient ran out 3-1 winners.

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Perkins spent the first half of last season on loan at Oxford United in League One, but struggled to find his way into the team. He subsequently returned to Thorp Arch for the second half of 2023/24 where he remained with Leeds' U21s, for whom he was particularly effective during 2022/23 whilst still a teenager.

This season, the youngster's league minutes have been limited but opportunities have come elsewhere in the EFL Trophy, League Cup and FA Cup. In roughly 660 minutes, or seven full 90s, Perkins has scored three and assisted two for the O's.

Ordinarily, Perkins and Leyton Orient would be in action this weekend as fixtures in League One and below continue throughout the international break. However, Orient's scheduled opponents Mansfield Town successfully requested a postponement which means the O's next outing will be Saturday, 23 November versus Stevenage.

Orient boss Wellens reacted to news of the postponement with a single snoring face emoji on social media platform Twitter/X, appearing to express his disdain for the call to reschedule his side's game against the Stags.

The decision has been met with opposition by fans of both clubs, in addition to O's head coach Wellens.

Perkins is on a season-long loan deal at Brisbane Road, which expires next summer at the same time as his Leeds contract.

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