WINGER Andros Townsend is happy to stay at Orient for the rest of the season, if Tottenham give him the green light, writes TREVOR DAVIES. The flying winger s loan spell ends on December 31 and if Spurs decide to recall him, he will have just three more m

WINGER Andros Townsend is happy to stay at Orient for the rest of the season, if Tottenham give him the green light, writes TREVOR DAVIES.

The flying winger's loan spell ends on December 31 and if Spurs decide to recall him, he will have just three more matches with Orient - the away games at Walsall and Brighton & Hove Albion, before a final home appearance against Southend United on Monday, December 28.

The 18-year-old was one of the star performers in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by the MK Dons and admitted afterwards he is unsure what the future holds.

"I don't know, I will sit down when my loan runs out and see what Spurs want me to do," said Townsend.

Orient would be keen to keep the youngster, but Spurs may want him back, or they could opt to send him out on loan with another club.

Tottenham did not allow Townsend to play for the O's in the FA Cup, which suggests Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has plans of his own for the youngster.

But the winger admits he is happy to stay at Orient, if that is an option.

"Spurs might want me to come back here or stay with them. I don't mind coming back, as I'm enjoying myself here," he said.

Townsend has made 14 league starts for the O's, plus five more from the bench and believes he has benefitted from his stay at Brisbane Road.

He ended last season on loan at Huish Park, where he made 10 league starts, but admitted: "When I was at Yeovil, I was pretty much like a baby, but I have matured here.

"I've learned how to try and see games out and improve the defensive aspect of my game.

"I have learned a lot at Orient," said the youngster.

If Townsend does return to White Hart Lane at the end of the year, he would like to leave Orient in a higher league position.

Currently, the O's are just one place above the drop zone with 22 points, although in a horribly congested table, Hartlepool occupy 12th place with 26.

Indeed, had the O's held on to their lead against the MK Dons at the weekend, they would have been up into 15th position.

Townsend believes O's can climb away from danger and said: "Everyone is close to the drop zone in the bottom half of the table.

"Over the Christmas period if we beat Walsall and Brighton we will be back up to half-way."

Townsend was disappointed with Saturday's defeat: "In the first half we did really well and played some of our best football.

"We said at half time if we keep on doing what we're doing we will win the game.

"But, for some reason in the second half, we changed and didn't play like we did in the first, or play how we know we can."

O's did hit the post twice, but Townsend added: "That's the luck on the day, but we can't really make excuses because we hit the woodwork. We were poor in the second half."

The MK Dons identified Townsend as the dangerman and he came in for some rough treatment as three visiting players, Darren Powell, Luke Howell and Danny Woodards were all booked for fouls on the teenager.

But Townsend shrugged it off as an occupational hazard: "When I take players on, I've got to take fouls, but then I've got to get up and keep going and commit more players and get more fouls," he said.

"People want to foul me because they can't get close to me, so that's a good thing.