Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has confirmed that young goalkeeper Noah Phillips will be made available for a loan move. The 21-year-old, who played in five of the club's first eight matches this season, is set to depart temporarily to gain more regular first-team football.
Wellens revealed the plan this week as his squad prepares for their next League One fixture against Wycombe Wanderers at home on September 12th.
Noah Phillips has been a valuable squad member for Leyton Orient this season. He stepped up when first-choice goalkeeper Nathan Baxter was injured, starting three League One matches and keeping two clean sheets. Phillips also played a key role in two cup penalty shoot-out victories, against AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy and Walsall in the EFL Cup.
With Baxter now fit and reinstated to the starting line-up, and deadline-day loan signing Oliver Dovin from Coventry City providing cover on the bench, Phillips finds himself down the pecking order. Richie Wellens explained the thinking behind the loan decision. "My plan with Noah is to loan him out because he's had that taste of first-team football, and I want him to continue that so that in six months, a year, or 18 months, he's ready to be our first-team goalkeeper," the manager said.
Phillips's early-season involvement was more significant than many might have anticipated. He featured in over half of the club's competitive fixtures before the September international break. His performances were not only about filling a gap; they contributed directly to results. The two clean sheets in league action helped Orient secure points, and his shoot-out heroics in the cups ensured progression in both competitions.
His omission from the matchday squad for the recent 1-1 draw at Luton Town signaled the shift, with Baxter's return making Phillips the odd man out.
This will not be Phillips's first experience of loan football. The 21-year-old has previously had spells gaining experience at non-league sides Hornchurch, Bishop's Stortford, and Dorking Wanderers. Those moves were designed to build his foundation, but this next loan is viewed as a critical step in his development towards becoming Leyton Orient's long-term number one.
Wellens admitted the choice was difficult, acknowledging the player's good form when called upon. "It was a tough decision for me," the manager stated. The goal is to find a club where Phillips can play every week, facing the pressures and demands of regular senior football that cannot be replicated in training or under-23 matches.
The immediate picture in goal for Leyton Orient is clear. Nathan Baxter is firmly established as the first choice when fit. New arrival Oliver Dovin, signed on loan from Coventry City just before the transfer deadline, provides the experienced backup option on the bench. This leaves Phillips as the third-choice goalkeeper, a situation the management believes is not ideal for his progression at this stage of his career.
The decision to loan out Phillips is a strategic one, betting on his future value to the club over his immediate utility as a backup.
