Alberto Cavasin believes some of the Under-18s can fit into his starting XI after they provided a much improved performance against Brighton & Hove Albion's Under-23s.

Although they lost 1-0, courtesy of a Richie Towell goal, the youngsters gave the O's a spark of energy which has been missing from their game as of late.

Myles Judd, Josh Koroma, Aron Pollock and Victor Adeboyejo all shone and all will give the Italian boss some food for thought as Orient take on Colchester on Saturday.

"I thought this was a match we played at the same level as the opponent. We still have evident faults from the goal we conceded," said Cavasin.

"We played better in the second half than the first, we created some important chances and we saw some youngsters who are ready to play in the league.

"And this is very important for us."

With the heavy 6-0 defeat to Sheffield United in the FA Cup on Sunday still playing in the minds of the O's faithful, they are looking to the Colchester match as the one the players need to react most too. 

And when the 60-year-old was asked whether he will mix the team of youngsters and senior players at the weekend he said: "We tried to put in a good performance tonight.

"I obviously agree with the supporters that the value of the match on Saturday has a different value compared to this one.

"Our objective is the League and looking at the table we certainly need to be concentrating and focused on that.

"On Saturday I will certainly pick the best possible team I can put in. I think it certainly helps that we are not in any other competitions."

Andy Edwards and Danny Webb have been an influential factor to the development of the youth team as the former spent a number of years as their head coach.

With points needed on the board to ensure the O’s fight out of the relegation zone the youngsters could be the much needed boost in confidence the E10 side needs.

Cavasin added: “Edwards and Webb have not been the only help to picking which youngsters went in the side.

“Even the man who is training them (Richard Thomas) he was with us tonight. And we work every day side by side in the same offices and the same pitches and in everyday life.

“These youngsters have trained every day with us since my arrival. So I already knew them.

“But clearly in this moment their advice has been very important to me. There are choices that need to be made and we need to work together.”

The O’s will take on the U’s at the Colchester Community Stadium with a 3pm kick off.