Jamie Donley was on the lips of all Tottenham fans on Tuesday evening after another outstanding display for Leyton Orient. The 20-year-old was instrumental in Orient's 6-2 win at Exeter City as Richie Wellens' side moved into the League One play-offs.

The east London club made the best possible start to the contest with Azeem Abdulai putting them 2-0 up inside the first seven minutes. Donley was the architect for Abdulai's second goal with a sensational assist that put his teammate clean through on goal.

Taking the ball down on his chest on the right touchline and allowing it to bounce twice, the Tottenham academy ace then played an incredible crossfield ball that skimmed along the surface and went between two Exeter players to allow Abdulai to ghost in unmarked. Darren Pratley's reaction said it all as he had both his arms in the air as soon as Donley picked out his fellow attacker, with four Orient players immediately going over to celebrate with the loan star rather than the goalscorer.

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Donley was to add another assist to his name 11 minutes before the interval as he teed up former Tottenham man Dilan Markanday. Picked out on the edge of the area after making a good run through the middle, the Antrim-born player subsequently put the ball on a plate for Markanday to convert from close range.

Donley was to get the goal his performance deserved in the 78th minute as he completed the rout in style with a dipping volley from the edge of the area. It was some strike from the youngster as he scored his fifth of the season for the O's.

Now on five goals and six assists for the season for Orient, Donley's form has been sensational since coming back into the starting XI at the start of December after remarkably finding himself out of the matchday squad on four occasions prior to that. The Tottenham man has played a pivotal role in Orient's rise up the table and their 11-match unbeaten run in the league, leaving supporters dreaming of promotion to the Championship come May.

Donley's performances will undoubtedly be catching the eye of everyone back at Tottenham as they plan for the years ahead. A player rated extremely highly by Ange Postecoglou and the club, the attacking midfielder is sending a big message right now that he can challenge for a permanent spot in the first-team squad next season.

He has gone from strength to strength in his first loan move away from the club and he will be intent on making a huge impression at Hotspur Way when he returns for pre-season training ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Right now, though, Wellens is the man in possession of Donley and that is only going to help Orient in their promotion push between now and May.

"That pass for Azeem's goal where he side-footed it, I said to him in there that it's an unbelievable pass and Josh Keeley has said that it came off his shin," explained Wellens when speaking to the media after the game. "I said it didn't because the only two people in the stadium that can play that pass are Jamie Donley and the other one is me. That pass doesn't belong in League One, it was top.

"When you get him in the final third, his ability to find passes is special. He's got that little where he looks to pass it and then he has that little delay and pause and that moves defenders off their line. He can hit people's backfoot, he hits space and we're really pleased with him. I think he's come on the last two or three months unbelievably."

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