CHERRIES frontman Jordan Green's loan move to Leyton Orient is still being held up by red tape – more than six weeks after he signed for the League Two strugglers.

Green, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Newport County, joined the Londoners on transfer deadline day in January.

But just days after signing him, Orient were unable to include him in their squad against Carlisle due to “a failure to request his return papers from the Welsh FA following the conclusion of the original loan”.

The issue is still to be resolved and Green is not permitted to play competitively, although he was allowed to turn out in a friendly when Cherries under-21s met Sampdoria on Wednesday.

Green, who gave up his job as a supermarket shelf-stacker to join Cherries in July 2015, played a starring role in a 4-0 win – netting twice and setting up a goal for Sam Surridge, all inside the opening 15 minutes.

Interim under-21 boss Mark Molesley told the Daily Echo: “Jordan had some issues with paperwork after playing for Newport in Wales.

“It is a long, drawn-out story but the poor lad has ended up not being able to be registered to play any football.

“The fact it was a friendly against Sampdoria meant we were able to get him out there and I think his performance showed how much he had been missing it. I thought he was very good.”

Max Gradel, who returned to first-team action at Manchester United after more than four months out of the side, started and finished the fixture with the Italians – which ended on 83 minutes following an injury to Corey Jordan.

“It’s great to have senior pros around for our boys to rub shoulders with and learn from,” added Molesley.

“And the experience of playing against a side as illustrious as Sampdoria was great for them.

“Max applied himself very well. I’m sure he got a lot out of the game – just as our young lads will have done by playing with him.”