Ex-Southampton striker sweeps up awards 18 months on from tough Blackpool FC spell

Dom Ballard has been able to put the struggles of his Blackpool loan spell behind him - with the now-Leyton Orient man picking up three prizes at the EFL Awards following an impressive campaign.

Since making the move to Brisbane Road last summer, the 21-year-old has bagged 22 goals and five assists in 38 third tier outings.

His performances were recognised on Sunday night as he was named League One player of the season and League One young player of the season, as well as being included in the competition’s team of the season.

The Southampton youth product’s strong form comes on the back of a tough few years out on loan away from St Mary’s.

After initially starting a stint with Reading with five goals and three assists in 12 appearances in 2023, his time in Berkshire was cut cruelly short through a season-ending injury.

The following summer, he made the switch to Bloomfield Road, but his time in Tangerine didn’t live up to its early promise.

Despite impressing during his first few weeks with the Seasiders, an injury derailed him again, with a regular starting spot proving hard to come by following his return to action.

After scoring once in 22 appearances, Ballard was recalled by the Saints and sent back out to Cambridge United for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

The forward’s time at the Abbey Stadium only brought two goals and one assist in 17 outings, as the U’s suffered relegation to League Two.

Things have certainly taken a different direction for Ballard since his permanent move away from Southampton back in September, and despite Orient’s own poor form in the third tier, he has been able to stand out to become the competition’s current top scorer.

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