Leyton Orient have taken experienced midfielder Sam Hutchinson on trial following his release at Reading in May.
The 34-year-old Chelsea youngster joined Reading in 2022 after spending almost a decade with Sheffield Wednesday.
Struggling with injury and cast aside from November onwards under Ruben Selles, the Berkshire-born combative midfielder managed just 26 appearances for the Royals in two seasons.
He controversially slammed his young teammates in a club interview following a 3-2 defeat to Shrewsbury Town in November when the Royals threw away two goals in stoppage time to sit 10 points adrift at the bottom of the division.
Released at the end of the season, little was known about the future plans of Hutchinson until his name appeared on Leyton Orient's teamsheet last night for a friendly with St Alban's City.
The team is out!#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/ZpIEqSaddi
— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) July 16, 2024
Starting for the O's, Ritchie Wellens' side won 5-1 with Dan Agyei netting a hattrick.
Wellens, whose son Charlie plays for Reading, led the East London club to promotion from League Two in 2023 and Orient secured a top-half finish in their first campaign back at third-tier level.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here