Peterborough United midfielder hoping to make Orient debut at St James Park after joining on loan for the rest of the season

Jack Payne is hoping to make his Leyton Orient debut this afternoon at Exeter City, but isn’t naïve enough to think he will be included in the starting team.

Ian Hendon’s side have began the new League Two campaign with five consecutive victories to sit top of the table with the only 100 per cent record in the division.

Lloyd James, Sammy Moore, Bradley Pritchard and Dean Cox have started every league fixture and will be expected to do so again at St James Park.

The O’s new loan signing accepts that he will have to wait his chance, but after playing 90 minutes for parent club Peterborough on August 22, the 23-year-old feels good.

Payne said: “I am not going to be naïve and think I am going to come in and start straight away because the boys have won five out of five.

“I know that and I understand that so I want to work my way in and when I get my chance I have to take it.

“I have played one 90 minutes recently and came on for half an hour in another fixture so I have not had a lot of game time.

“But I have been involved in a few reserve matches and trained every day so I think I should be fine fitness-wise as long as I get games under my belt I should be fine, but I am feeling good anyway and that is all that matters.”

Even though Payne has only just joined the O’s this week, he is familiar with most of the squad already.

Connor Essam is godfather to his son and he knows Sammy Moore well plus head coach Hendon and assistant Andy Hessenthaler.

Payne also went with the Orient squad to their pre-season training camp in Spain back in July and feels settled in already.

“I want the game to be now so I can get playing. It is coming so hopefully I will get my chance,” said the 23-year-old when speaking on Thursday.

“I come in this week, went to the game the other night at Luton Town and it was just like I had been here all summer. It is easy to settle in because I had already met everybody and been with them for six days in Spain.”

Payne will now hope to help Orient make it six from six this afternoon in Exeter.