Orient boss Richie Wellens backs Jamie Donley to shine on biggest stage

Richie Wellens has tipped Leyton Orient midfielder Jamie Donley for the top after he etched his name into FA Cup folklore with a moment of magic against Manchester City on Saturday.

Tottenham loanee Donley sent Brisbane Road into pandemonium after 16 minutes of their fourth-round tie when his 40-yard lob struck the crossbar and bounced in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

It subsequently went down as an Ortega own-goal but Donley will cherish the latest highlight of an impressive first loan spell away from Spurs.

The 20-year-old initial struggled after he joined O’s and played only a minute of Sky Bet League One football in November, but has started to flourish with five goals and five assists in his last nine fixtures in the division.

After Tottenham declined the chance to recall Donley in January, the academy graduate will remain at Orient for the second half of the season, but Wellens knows the left-footed playmaker may soon grace the Premier League regularly.

“Going forward Championship will be minimum for him,” Wellens acknowledged after a narrow 2-1 loss to City.

“Unless we’re in the Championship, there’s no way we get him back next year.

“The plan for Jamie was one of two things. He comes to us, develops, grows into a man and then goes back to Tottenham and maybe gets into their first team.

“If not, then he goes to the Championship, so there is a clear development plan for him going forward.

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“Spurs have been great with us, loaned us one of their best young players and we think we’ve developed him really well over the last six months.

“And if he carries on with the same attitude, the same intensity, the same work ethic and mentality, then he might be playing