LEYTON Orient boss Martin Ling is unlikely to be able to call upon the services of injured trio Gary Alexander (thigh), John Mackie (knee) or Donny Barnard (foot) for his side's League Two trip to Cheltenham on Saturday, writes Leo Tyrie.

The crocked trio sat out the O's 1-1 draw at Cambridge in midweek, and are unlikely to have recovered sufficiently to be considered for selection at Whaddon Road.

Ling said: "Gary Alexander and John Mackie had scans on Tuesday and I'd say that it's unlikely that either they or Donny Barnard will be ready for Saturday."

The O's boss is, therefore, likely to stick with the side that turned in an improved performance at the Abbey Stadium and he continued: "I think the three who came in on Tuesday deserve another chance.

"Gabriel Zakuani was magnificent at Cambridge and I believe right-back could well turn out to be Justin Miller's best position."

Orient travel to Gloucestershire with revenge on their minds after suffering three defeats by the Robins' last term.

Cheltenham dumped them out of the FA Cup in controversial circumstances and also completed a league double over the Londoners, so the O's will be keen to end that sequence.

But they do not have history on their side, because since Cheltenham's elevation to the Football League in 1999, Orient have only defeated them once in nine attempts, and never at Whaddon Road.

Cheltenham opened their 2004-05 campaign with a 2-0 victory at Southend last Saturday, but failed to build on that in midweek, as they went down to Scunthorpe by the same scoreline.

Robins boss John Ward has brought in eight new players over the summer, including Wolves midfielder JJ Melligan and Hereford striker Steve Guinan. And after finishing a disappointing 14th last season, Cheltenham approach this campaign in a similar position to the O's as play-off hunting outsiders.