How Charlie Kelman Has Given Leyton Orient Hope For Promotion

How Charlie Kelman Has Given Leyton Orient Hope For Promotion

With nine goals and one assist in his last eight games, Leyton Orient forward Charlie Kelman has become a force to be reckoned with in the EFL League One this season. The American forward has scored 20 league goals this campaign and his form has helped see Orient soar towards a League One playoff berth. A 4-3 victory over Barnsley on the ironically named Good Friday, has left them occupying the fourth and final playoff position. But how on earth have the minnows from London managed to get in this position? This article will outline Charlie Kelman’s contributions to his sides successes this season and will highlight Orient’s ambitions for the remainder of the campaign.

Charlie Kelman: An English Adventure

Originally born in Basildon, Essex, Kelman spent his youth in Texas, in the FC Dallas academy setup before moving back to England, beginning his English adventure in the youth ranks of Southend United. He made his senior debut during the infamous Covid-19 season, where Southend were still in League One, as he scored seven goals during this time. He spent around 22 months there before making his move to London, joining Queens Park Rangers on an unknown fee. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old he could not find his feet in the Championship, featuring 11 times for the R’s, but he could not match his impressive return he had on the East coast.

Kelman has not yet been able to break into the starting squad for QPR and has since been sent on a flurry of loans- mainly to League One sides- as he was not thought to have been able to produce at the Championship level. During the 2021/22 season, Kelman headed on loan to then League One side Gillingham where he repeated his struggles, netting twice in 23 league appearances. Next season, O’s fans were able to get a taste of what Kelman offered at the Gaughan Group Stadium, as he collected 10 goal involvements for the first time in his career- scoring seven, assisting three. It was also at the Reds where he was able to get the sense of what a full season under his belt felt like, playing in 43 league matches.

Thanks to this invaluable experience, Kelman earned a chance in Rangers’ Championship squad. However, after failing to make a mark in his 11 attempts, he was loaned to Wigan Athletic for the remainder of the campaign, where he played a further 14 times, scoring three. Fast forward to the present and the American is enjoying his most successful period in senior football. Scoring 23 times in all competitions and currently leading the way in the League One golden boot race, Kelman’s efforts have seen Orient push all the way to the playoff spots with just three games to play.

League One’s Surprise Package

Leyton Orient are a club with little financial power over competitors in League One, relying heavily on loan transfers and the free agent market. As you can see from the screenshot above, Orient were one of eight teams who did not spend a penny in the transfer market. The Reds are the best performing of those teams this campaign and with over 30 arrivals and departures each, manager Richie Wellens had to work with almost a completely new squad in their second season during this spell in the third tier.

The O’s have already surpassed last seasons points tally, as they have collected 69 points from their 43 matches so far- collecting an impressive 21 wins, six draws, suffering 16 defeats. They also have one of the best attacks in the division, largely thanks to Kelman, however, only Blackpool, Wycombe and Birmingham have outscored their tally of 65. They have one of the most compact defences in the league too, with their 46 bettered by the top five and The Latics.

Their final third success is not only down to Kelman either, with Jamie Donley and Ethan Galbraith being involved in 16 and 11 goals respectively. Orient are also hitting the home straight on glorious form, winning three of their last three and scoring 10 in that time meaning their forwards are all on hot form themselves coming into the last crucial clashes that will determine their season.

As for cup competitions, the Reds have enjoyed successful campaigns in them too. An EFL Cup campaign ended to Premier League’s Brentford- however victories against Newport County as well as a win over Chamionship side Millwall meant there were many positives to take. Orient made it to the round of 16 in the EFL Trophy too, before being knocked out by fellow League One opposition in Stevenage. The FA Cup is where the O’s impressed the most however- their best effort in England’s biggest domestic cup competition since the 2010/11 where they made the 5th round. Here, they made it to Round 4 after winning two penalty shootouts along the way, including a victory over Derby County, before letting a first-half lead slip to fall short against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Promotion on the horizon?

Since the EFL leagues were renamed in 2004, Leyton Orient have never stepped foot in the Chamionship. There is no reason why, currently, the O’s cannot take that big step into the unknown- their forwards are on fire and they are on the best past-three match form out of their rivals and most importantly they have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Next up for Wellens’ side is a trip to Cambridge- who are currently 22nd and in a desperate scrap for points to escape the relegation zone. With just 38 points so far, Leyton Orient will definitely come in as favourites, and it could be a great opportunity to extend their goal difference on closest rivals Reading and Bolton.

This is a must win however, as their penultimate match of the campaign comes as they host Wycombe Wanderers who are looking to return to the Championship following a short stint a couple seasons ago. Wanderers currently reside in second place, leading their battle with Wrexham for the second automatic spot and after keeping three clean sheets in a row, this will be a very entertaining clash.

Leyton Orient’s final match of the season ends with a visit to Huddersfield. The Terriers sit with an outside chance for the final playoff spot; however, they will have to rely on all Orient, Reading and Wigan dropping points. Head-to-head does not favour Orient here, as they have only won once in 10 meetings with the Yorkshire outfit so they will really have to show hunger and fight to win this battle to earn a spot in the playoffs.

Future Aspirations for Kelman?

If this is the last time Kelman puts on an O’s shirt, he will certainly not be forgotten by the supporters, cementing himself with other ballers on the many “never fall in love with loan players” lists.

He will have also hoped to have proved himself enough to be able to earn frequent minutes in a Blue and White shirt next season- as he has certainly earned another chance.

The American has only earned one cap for the USA U-20 side and with the form he is in, he will hope to replicate it wherever he ends up for the 2025/26 season to potentially enter Mauricio Pochettino’s thoughts for a senior men’s call up and dare we say- but an outside chance of making the World Cup Squad in 2026, to debut with the country of his allegiance.