The Leeds United striker has set a new challenge following his transfer switch

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens knows on-loan Leeds United striker Sonny Perkins is not the finished article as he sent a reminder to his player after a positive debut.

Perkins was expected to start after moving to Elland Road from West Ham United in 2022, although in reality the rigors of playing in the Premier League at the time was a high expectation for any teenager. He subsequently made just four first-team appearances, mainly for the Under-21s, as he failed to impress Daniel Farke.

On loan for the second time in as many seasons, Leyton Orient are the latest club to take him on a temporary basis. The 20-year-old has returned to the club he called home until the age of 14, aiming to rediscover his pace of play and goal-scoring verve.

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Os began their preparations for the upcoming campaign this week, beating local club Hornchurch FC 7-0 in their first pre-season outing. Perkins scored the second of those strikes, slotting in from close range.

When asked about his initial assessment of the Leeds loanee after the final whistle, Wellens gave a candid answer about his new player.

“Obviously we watched Sonny a lot,” explained the manager. “He played as a center forward for West Ham. Very good in the six-yard box and around the penalty area. He has a lot of things we can work on, a lot of things we can improve.”

Leeds no doubt recognize this too, so it’s just a matter of Perkins proving he can perform at a consistently high level over the next year. His contract at Elland Road is due to expire next summer, so any chance of a renewal is likely to be based on his performance at Brisbane Road.