In an article from our Kick-Off pullout, the experienced goalkeeper discusses the mindset of the group

Dean Brill insists everyone in the Leyton Orient squad will put pressure on themselves to deliver success this term.

The O’s headed into the new campaign under the radar after a quiet pre-season where they only signed two players.

Most of the newspapers inches this summer, when it came to the National League, went to new boys Salford City after lots of big-spending.

This time last year O’s were the talk of non-league football and yet 12 months down the line, the focus is elsewhere.

Orient are still among the favourites for promotion, but with Salford the best-priced and more fancied, it will be a chance for Justin Edinburgh’s men to try and enjoy having less spotlight and scrutiny.

But Brill admitted even if others don’t expect as much from the O’s, the squad in E10 all know what is expected of them this season.

“I think there is pressure from ourselves as a group and pressure we will embrace,” said the 32-year-old stopper.

“We know what we’re about and the club’s history is the club’s history with its fan base. We’ll have in-house targets and there will be expectation from us from within and from the outside too, but we’ll embrace it and look to attack the season.”

Brill will aim to play a key part in Orient’s success this term and could be benefited by less coaching duties.

At the start of the 2017/18 campaign, the former Luton Town custodian was simply just goalkeeper coach at O’s, but following Edinburgh’s appointment, he took over the number one spot.

Last season he divided the roles – coaching and playing – but now he will focus on just playing, although he may help out with the under-18s from time to time.

Brill added: “Playing is what I have been used to, so I am used to pre-season. Last summer was a nice change to do the coaching.

“It’s something I will look to do again in the future, but this is what I’m used to. This is the norm and we have a great group and we worked hard this pre-season.”