On the final day of the January transfer window, Leyton Orient completed the capture of Kazaiah Sterling from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 21-year-old joins the O’s on loan for the remainder of the season, having had his move to Doncaster Rovers cut short.

To find out more about the E10 club’s latest addition, Rising East spoke to John Wenham from Lilywhite Rose who has closely tracked the youngster’s career at Spurs.

Champions League Experience 

Sterling arrived at Tottenham aged 11, impressing at both Under-18 and Under-21 level.

“Kazaiah made his debut for Spurs u18’s as a substitute vs Aston Villa in 2014 he would go on to make 14 appearances that season for the u18s as an u16s player. The following season he made his debut for the u21’s,” Wenham told us.

During his time at N17, the forward made two competitive appearances for the club, including a Champions League debut against Apoel Nicosia.

“At the conclusion of the 16/17 season, Kaz scored for the first team in a post-season friendly vs Kitchee SC in Hong Kong. Kaz made his senior bow vs Apoel in the Champions League in December 2017 coming on as a late substitute in the 3-0 win.”

Alas, he has failed to kick on at Spurs, like many before, and according to Wenham, he will be disappointed with his progress since his debut.

“Since his debut, first-team appearances have been few and far between for Kaz and he has failed to make the most recent pre-season tours.

“Like many youngsters have found before, the hardest part is not making your debut but staying in amongst the squad thereafter.

“Having made his debut two seasons ago, Kaz will be disappointed that he has not quite pushed on as he may have envisaged. Injuries have also played their part.”

Finding His Level

Following two tricky spells in League One, Spurs took the decision to recall the player in order to find him more opportunities.

Whilst injuries have played their part, Sterling struggled to gain minutes last season at Sunderland and with Doncaster this term.

However, having now made the step down a division, Wenham is confident the Spurs loanee will be better equipped for League Two.

“I feel that League Two is probably the appropriate level for Kaz to get some first-team exposure after securing a loan to the biggest league 1 side, Sunderland last season albeit initially starting brightly playing eight times and scoring once in a 3-0 win at Accrington Stanley he struggled for selection later in the season.

“At the beginning of this season, he joined League One side Doncaster Rovers but suffered injury problems, a horrific dead leg and was restricted to only four more appearances before being recalled.”

Consistency Is Key

Having had a bright spell during his time at Sunderland, his form curtailed and he found himself dropping in and out of the squad.

Meanwhile, having assisted the winning-goal in Doncaster’s 2-1 win over Lincoln, in the following match at Rotherham he was withdrawn at half-time and failed to make another appearance.

Consistency is an area of the 21-year-old’s game he will be needing to address as he looks to break into the side at Orient.

“Throughout his time in the Spurs youth teams Kaz would have weeks looking great but they have dry patches and fail to score or be as involved in games as he would like to be.

“If he can add consistency then someone will get a really good hardworking forward out of Kaz.”

Home Comforts 

Sterling will be hoping a loan move closer to home will bring him greater success than his previous two spells which saw him leave the capital.

The striker will also be reunited with his former coach and current Orient boss, Ross Embleton, who he worked with at both Spurs and Orient whilst playing at youth level.

“Yes, I believe this always helps with the settling in period added to the fact that he’s working with Ross Embleton again a coach he previously worked with at Spurs.

“Kaz started out at Orient coming through their centre of excellence as a youngster and was actually signed by Embleton before joining Spurs in 2015.”

He becomes the second player from Spurs to join the O’s on loan this term, with George Marsh currently enjoying a successful spell in east London.

“He will also be joined at Orient by fellow Spur, Development Squad midfielder, George Marsh.”

Next Step?

Next summer, Tottenham will face the decision of whether to allow the striker to leave the club on a permanent basis.

He will have just 12 months remaining on his contract and with a new deal unlikely they could run the risk of losing him for nothing.

“With Kaz’s contract at Spurs set to expire on 30 June 2021, I would imagine, that should this loan spell at Orient go well and with Spurs in the knowledge that they have Troy Parrott and Kion Etete coming through, they would be happy for Kaz to move on a permanent basis.”

Sterling is expected to attract interest in the summer from League One, League Two and Scottish clubs should his loan spell at Brisbane Road prove to be a success.

“He would likely have interest in clubs from League 1 and League 2 plus the Scottish leagues. He is at the right age now to make that long-term move away from the sometimes too comfortable environment of a category 1 academy like we have at Hotspur Way.”

Sterling On Joining The O’s

Photographs courtesy Leyton Orient FC.

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