Brisbane Road boss delighted with squad and how they are starting to look like a team

Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon is enjoying the football his side are producing after more encouraging pre-season wins this week.

The O’s defeated League One side Colchester United 3-0 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on Saturday and followed that with a 4-0 victory against National League Woking at Kingfield Stadium on Tuesday.

Optimism is building ahead of the League Two opener against Barnet on August 8 and the four signings made by the Brisbane Road club on Monday have contributed towards that.

Goalkeeper Alex Cisak has returned on a permanent basis and defenders Alan Dunne, Connor Essam and Frazer Shaw have all signed deals with the O’s for the year ahead.

The mood in the Orient camp is positive – a complete contrast to last season – and Hendon has done a fine job so far this summer in shaping a squad that looks capable of mounting a promotion challenge.

But he isn’t going to let himself get carried away yet.

“I hope the boys are enjoying themselves because if they are not enjoying playing football then they shouldn’t be playing, simple as that,” said Hendon.

“They have to take on board what we are telling them and as I said before, we worked hard when we were in Spain.

“We have come back and continued that work, and I think it is starting to show in the way we are playing. We are not getting carried away.

“We have had two good results against Colchester and Woking, but we are not getting carried away. I am enjoying watching the players, watching them work, which is the main thing. They are working so hard at the moment and getting their rewards for it.”

After bringing Cisak, Dunne, Essam and Shaw into the club on permanent deals on Monday, the Orient squad looks close to being complete.

Hendon admitted he is now satisfied with the amount of players he has and is confident of taking that team into the new League Two campaign.

The O’s have been linked with Peterborough midfielder Jack Payne for a large part of the summer, but that deal doesn’t seem likely now.

Orient probably need another central midfielder and a left-back if Shane Lowry leaves as expected, but Hendon is pleased with what he has got.

He added: “I am quite happy with the numbers we have. I am not saying we are going to sign any players and I am not saying we are not going to.

“If something comes along which we think will make us stronger then we might do something, but I am happy with the squad I’ve got here.

“It might not be the biggest, but the more players you have got the more people you need to keep happy. I’m quite satisfied to go along with what we’ve got.

“If we need to do anything later on because of injuries or suspensions then there are plenty of places where we can go to pick players up.”