City Faces Tough Game Against Orient as Donley Aims to Shine
Jamie Donley is excited to add to his five goals and six assists this season when Leyton Orient plays Manchester City in the FA Cup. The Tottenham loanee had only two touches in his last game against City. This time, he wants to make a bigger impact as Orient aims for a big upset on Saturday.
City’s match against the hot Sky Bet League One club is one of the highlights of the FA Cup fourth round. Pep Guardiola’s team is looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Arsenal. They will head to London again just days later to face a confident Orient squad. Donley, who made his pro debut in a thrilling 3-3 match last season, can’t wait for another chance to play against stars like Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
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Donley Ready for the Challenge
Thinking back on his debut, Donley called it one of the best moments of his life. Being a Tottenham fan made it even better. Now, he hopes to be more involved against City. City Face Tough Test Against Orient.
“I hope to get more touches! You never know, I might not touch the ball, but it will be a great experience. We hope to give them a good match,” Donley said.
Even though he looks up to City’s stars, Donley plans to play hard. “It will be exciting, but I won’t be intimidated. I will chase them down, try to take the ball, and win because that’s what we’re here for.”
A Turning Point in Donley’s Season
People are taking notice of Donley. He joined Orient in August after helping Tottenham’s under-21s win the Premier League 2 title. After a strong pre-season, he got to start right away in several matches for Orient.
But by mid-October, things changed. He lost his spot and barely played in November. There was talk of recalling him to Tottenham in January, but the FA Cup gave him a fresh chance.
He had a brief appearance in a dramatic match against Oldham, then played the full game against Bristol Rovers on December 3. Since then, Donley has started 13 games, scoring five goals and getting several assists.
Overcoming Setbacks and Finding Form
Donley admitted that sitting on the bench was tough. “Coming in, playing well, then not being selected was hard,” he said.
He reached out to friends and asked Coach Wellens for advice. “He told me to keep training hard and work on a few things. I got my chance in the Bristol game. Since then, I’ve started every match, and he’s been really pleased with me.”
The help from his coaches has boosted Donley’s game. His recent success shows how determined he is. “They made me a better player, but I need to keep pushing,” he added.
Josh Keeley’s Heroics Inspire Orient
Josh Keeley, another Tottenham loanee, has been key for Orient too. His last-minute goal against Oldham started a 10-game winning streak, leading up to this big match with City.
A frozen pitch delayed Orient’s third-round game against Derby. Once they learned City was next, they felt extra motivated. Keeley’s penalty save helped them get to the fourth round, and Donley praised his teammate’s influence. City Face Tough Test Against Orient.
“Winning on penalties was awesome. It was a night to remember. Knowing we had City next made it even better,” Donley said.
He joked about Keeley’s excitement over his goal: “I don’t think there’s been a day when Josh hasn’t mentioned it, but if it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be here. Hopefully, he can shine again against City.”
As Orient gets ready for this huge match, Donley and his teammates are eager to give it their all and aim for the next round.
