NEWPORT County AFC are unlikely to have to face Leyton Orient’s star man Jay Simpson when the two sides meet at the Matchroom Stadium on Saturday.

Simpson top scored for the O’s last season with 25 goals, including a controversial winner from the penalty spot against County in January and one in a 3-2 victory at Rodney Parade 12 months ago.

But the former Arsenal striker has not featured for Orient so far in this campaign.

The player is understood to be ill but he is also believed to be close to sealing a switch to local rivals Southend United with less than a year to run on his contract and it could be completed in the coming days.

“Jay wasn’t available for selection and that’s pretty much it. I don’t know (if he could leave the club),” said manager Andy Hessenthaler after last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town in League Two.

Without Simpson, Orient made an excellent start against the Robins with Gavin Massey finding the net after three minutes.

But Cheltenham hit back 14 minutes from time when Billy Waters finished smartly from close range to give both teams a share of the spoils.

Once again Simpson wasn’t included in the match day squad for Tuesday’s 3-2 EFL Cup home defeat to Fulham, although he did watch the game at Brisbane Road.

And the O’s manager again reiterated that his star man was unavailable.

“Jay is still our player isn’t he and is under contract with the football club,” said Hessenthaler.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. At this present time, he is not available for selection.”

Without Simpson, Orient delivered an excellent fight back against Fulham after falling 3-0 behind to inspire hope ahead of the new campaign.

The target, as it was last year, is promotion back to League One and Hessenthaler believes the O’s fans will play a big part.

He told the East London Advertiser: “The fans always get behind us and they just want what everybody wants and that is to get out of this league.

“We’re all striving to do that and we need to all pull together and work together, it is not about one person, it is about everybody.

“It is about the squad, the club, the fans and everyone and if we keep pulling together, hopefully we succeed.”