Jamie Donley Tottenham development plan revealed after Leyton Orient FA Cup magic vs Man City

Jamie Donley is now known to most in football after what he did in Leyton Orient’s FA Cup clash against Manchester City. The Tottenham youngster has been on loan at the O’s this season and recent impressive performances perhaps saw him have the confidence to pull off something outrageous against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Having won possession back, Donley saw Stefan Ortega off his line and decided to attempt a halfway line lob, which has somehow become his trademark attempt having scored two similar goals in the academy, with the ball striking the bar before hitting the City goalkeeper and going in.

Despite his side going on to win 2-1, Guardiola gave a special mention to Donley in his post-match press conference. “What a goal. Fantastic shot, the quality, the technique and the speed, the flight of the ball,” he said. “When you concede this goal, it is just to congratulate the guy. I think it was Donley. He is an incredible left-footed player.”

Though it will not count as a goal contribution, Donley has still managed five goals and five assists from his last nine League One appearances. With such a record, it is no surprise that Orient boss Richie Wellens, who has had a bit of a run-in with Ange Postecoglou, expects him to play at a higher level next season.

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

“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 against City week in, week out.” Orient currently sit ninth in the table, three points short of the play-off places, and therefore promotion to the Championship is possible.

Josh Keeley has also been impressing on loan from Spurs at Brisbane Road with Wellens later singling him out for praise. “Josh was class and he’s been brilliant. I think 75 per cent of his performances have been clean-sheets,” he admitted.

“He’s got good character for a young kid and he’ll only go on and develop potentially into a top-level Premier League goalkeeper if he keeps his feet on the ground.”