The 19-year-old has improved his consistency under Justin Edinburgh, but doesn’t bear a grudge against ex-O’s boss Steve Davis
Josh Koroma has taken full responsibility for his inconsistent first half of the season and admitted he simply didn’t play well enough when given chances between August and December.
It has been an up-and-down campaign for the O’s academy graduates as currently he is the club’s joint top goalscorer with five goals.
All of them strikes have occurred in 2018 and after initially playing 11 times for ex-head coach Steve Davis between August 5 and September 16, Koroma then failed to make a first-team appearance for over two months.
Despite this, the young attacker doesn’t bear a grudge against the former Orient boss and is instead grateful he got more opportunities to impress under Justin Edinburgh.
Koroma conceded: “The first four months of this season I didn’t really play, but when I did play my performances weren’t particularly good enough.
“But I would like to think that has changed since the new gaffer has come in and given me a chance.
“I am trying to perform and help the team and repay the gaffer’s faith, so I would like to think I have improved over the past few months.”
After failing to take his opportunities under Davis, Koroma found himself out in the cold for a lengthy period of time.
Nevertheless, the youngster was sad to see the former Crewe Alexandra head coach get sacked on November 14.
When reflecting on his two months out of the first-team between September 16 and November 25, Koroma said: “Obviously I could have thrown my toys out of the pram, but I didn’t.
“I got my head down and I tried to work and I was disappointed when the old gaffer Steve Davis got sacked.
“At the same time it was a new opportunity for me to try and impress someone else. I wanted to try and work my way back into the team and thankfully I have done now, so I have learned a lot this season.”
Since earning Edinburgh’s trust, Koroma has netted winners at Bognor Regis Town (FA Trophy) and Halifax Town and recently struck the equaliser at National League champions Macclesfield Town.
He also scored the crucial second goal in the 4-1 win over Barrow, earlier this month, and in February found the net at Brisbane Road for the first time in the unforgettable 3-3 draw with Gateshead in the Trophy.
Overall it has been a strong second half to the season for Koroma, but as the first part of this campaign showed, he must keep taking his opportunities.
The prospect of the 19-year-old firing on all cylinders throughout the 2018/19 term is exciting, but if he is to do that and become an established starter, he must continue to improve his consistency.
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