After a knee injury, he joined East London neighbours Leyton Orient, managed by former Hammer Paul Brush on a six-week loan. On 22 October 2002, he made his professional debut in the first round of the season's Football League Trophy, at home to Peterborough United. In the 11th minute, he scored the first goal of a 3–2 victory. Four days later, he played his first game in The Football League, a 2–1 win away to Bristol Rovers in the Third Division; on 29 October he scored his first league goal in the second minute of a win by the same score against local rivals Southend United at Brisbane Road.