Martin Allen has spoken of his excitement for the coming season, and provided supporters with an injury update before tomorrow’s match.

Speaking at The Hive this morning, Martin said:

“We’re looking forward to tomorrow; we’ve had five and a half weeks of training, preparation, and I think like all football lovers, players, supporters, managers and coaches, everyone looks forward to this day.

“Being a local London derby after winning a championship, there’s no doubt that it’s all very exciting.

“Things have been the same as any other week in training. We don’t really do anything different; we just go about our normal routines and our normal work, in our normal way.

“There’s nothing special happening, nothing different happening, we just try and keep it all low key.

“Ben Tomlinson has an abscess in his throat, so he’s been in hospital for the last two days to try and get that cleared up.

“Thankfully he’s recovering but he will not be fit for the weekend. 

“It’s a completely random sore throat in the middle of the week, and by the end of the week he’s in hospital.

“So that was a bit of a worry and a concern at the time, but hopefully that’s settled down now.

“Kevin Lisbie won’t be fit and won’t be available. But he’ll be travelling with us, and he’ll be with us on the bench at Orient.

“Shaun Batt has recovered fully and he’ll be a sub, and Graham Stack is fully fit.

“He’s been fit now for about ten days, but we’ve just protected him and wrapped him in cotton wool really, ready for the game.

“I don’t think that we’ve got any other knocks or concerns.”

Former Bee Ian Hendon is now the manager of Leyton Orient, and Martin had positive things to say about the man he brought to Barnet:

“Ian Hendon was a good player for the club on and off the field.

“He’s a good person, and one of the best signings that I’ve made at Barnet Football Club.

“I’d put him right up in the top bracket of players that have played here – it’s no surprise that he’s gone into coaching and management because he was always a good listener and always a good learner.

“Again, it’s another former Barnet person who’s been working in the Premier League.

“It’s no surprise that Ian’s taken the reins at Orient, and I’m sure that he’s going to do very well.”