Defender Stuart Thom has also been added to Scunthorpe's growing long-term injury list after it was revealed he has torn a muscle in his calf.

Andy Dawson could feature in the game despite a knee injury, although he played against Cardiff on Saturday.

Manager Brian Laws said the next two home games, against Orient and Southend, were vital.

He said: "We know that Orient will be a tough match as they are up there in the play-off zone.

"But we have a good home record as we have conceded just eight goals in 15 home games and kept nine clean sheets.

"The next two games are crucial and they are at home.

"At the end of those we need to re-evaluate our season as we could be near the play-offs or miles away."

Meanwhile, Orient manager Tommy Taylor is refusing to panic after seeing his side's promotion push stutter in recent weeks.

Taylor has a fully-fit squad for the Division Three fixture against Scunthorpe at Glanford Park, with Matt Lockwood having recovered from a knee injury which has kept him out of the last three games.

Orient have registered just two wins in their last six league games following the FA Cup exit at home to Premiership side Spurs and the LDV Vans Trophy loss to Second Division Wycombe, also at Brisbane Road.

But an unworried Taylor said: "That's the way things go.

"We had been going really well up to that point and haven't done as well since the two cup defeats.

"But the players know what they have to do and they will go out and do it. We still have 17 games left to get back into it."