Rotherham United player has proved Leyton Orient doubters wrong ahead of reunion

Jamie McCart’s career seemed to be stagnating when he joined Leyton Orient on loan in January 2023, but he has seen a resurgence in recent years.

During the first six months of his Rotherham United tenure. McCart could only manage 173 minutes of championship football for a side battling relegation with 27 points collected after 26 games. This came as a mystery to many as the defender was fully fit, having only missed four games in his career due to injury. It appears he’d fallen out of favour with manager Matt Taylor, who arrived in October replacing Paul Warne.

Wanting first-team football on a regular basis, McCart made the move to East London in January 2023—halfway through Orient’s League Two winning campaign. The O’s had recently suffered injuries to defenders Dan Happe and Shadrach Ogie, making the addition a pleasant surprise for fans who were crying out for defensive reinforcements.

Jamie McCart struggled with the O’s

McCart’s loan divided opinions; while Orient achieved the goal of promotion, he felt unreliable and mistake-prone, which is reflected in the team’s results with him in the side.

The additional loan signing of defender Ed Turns from Brighton and the aforementioned Ogie’s return from injury meant the Rotherham loanee spent a period of time completely out of the squad before returning to the side in March. Even when he rejoined the starting XI, he struggled to perform and found most of his game-time after the O’s had secured promotion, leaving some to feel it was a panic signing and that there was no real plan to utilise him.

The defender returned to Rotherham in the summer before departing on a season-long loan to Barnsley, where he made 30 appearances and helped the South Yorkshire outfit to a sixth-place finish and a place in the League One play-offs – while also returning to E10 and playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw in October.

Manager’s faith could reap rewards for the Millers

Former manager Leam Richardson, who was let go following relegation to League One at the end of last season, claims he intended to recall McCart in January but was prevented due to the terms of the loan. Now the reigns have been handed to Steve Evans and the Scot has kept faith in his compatriot, who feels rewarded with the opportunity to prove himself as a reliable defender at this level.

McCart himself stated while speaking to the Rotherham Advertiser: “I’ve really enjoyed coming back and getting an opportunity. That’s all I ever asked for when I signed.

“Luckily, the gaffer has seen something in me and given me a chance. I just want to repay him every time I step on to the pitch.”

This term, the former Orient loan signing has been a regular fixture – starting every game for the Millers. They haven’t quite hit the heights they’d hoped for in their first season after relegation, sitting 16th after 12 games, but their Scottish centre-back has performed well – featuring in the top 30% of League One central defenders this season for tackles won, duels won, aerial duels won, and blocks made (FotMob) while also proving himself a nuisance in the opposition box at set pieces.

At first Barnsley and now Rotherham, McCart appears to have shown his qualities as a League One defender. That may come to the surprise of those who, during his time in East London, doubted he was up to League Two standard, never mind the third tier.

He has quietened his critics and ahead of his Orient reunion, he may well feel he has a point to prove given his time at Brisbane Road was underwhelming. The pair do battle for the first time in more than a decade this weekend but the O’s will have to get the better of a familiar face if they’re to come out on top.