Tottenham players expect Carabao Cup clash with Leyton Orient to be called off

Tottenham and Leyton Orient players believe Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash will be called off with Jose Mourinho’s men handed the victory.

The game is under huge uncertainty following a Covid outbreak at Orient.

But Sportsmail understands players from both teams are now convinced Spurs will be handed the win and a place in the next round.

Orient said in an official statement on Monday afternoon that they had informed the EFL and Tottenham and were preparing to make an announcement on the status of the game.

Public Health England were deciding on Orient’s ability to fulfil the fixture. The club would forfeit the game under EFL rules if they could not do so.

‘Following our game on Saturday 19th September, Covid-19 testing was conducted on all of our first-team playing squad,’ the statement read. 

‘Today (Monday 21st) we received formal confirmation which shows that a number of our first-team squad have tested positive for Covid-19. 

‘Leyton Orient’s priority is the health and well-being of its players and staff. Those who have tested positive will now strictly follow government self-isolation guidelines.’ 

While it is mandatory for Premier League clubs to test their players and staff for Covid-19, EFL clubs are no longer required to do so.

Orient tested their squad and staff ahead of the tie, recording ‘a number’ of positive results to put the game in doubt.

The statement continued: ‘We have also informed Mansfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Oldham Athletic, our three most recent opponents, prior to the public release of this information.’

Orient manager Ross Embleton’s pre-match press conference, scheduled for Monday afternoon, was cancelled. 

Tottenham are planning to auction their signed match shirts from the game, with proceeds going to the JE3 Foundation, set up in memory of Justin Edinburgh.

The former Orient manager made 276 appearances for Spurs between 1990, winning the FA Cup and League Cup.

The JE3 Foundation was set up by Edinburgh’s son, Charlie, to support heart charities.

The foundation campaigns for a legislative change – known as Justin’s Law – to make it compulsory for all health, fitness and sports facilities to be equipped with a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD). 

EFL rules also state that a club which is unable to fulfil its obligation to play in the cup due to positive Covid tests pay the opposing club’s expenses, who will receive a bye to the next round.

EFL clubs are allowed to rearrange league games without incurring such penalties.