Kevin Nolan believes he will have to call on his entire squad to successfully win promotion this season.

The new Leyton Orient player-manager significantly strengthened the squad with six signings during last month's transfer window.

Nolan handed debuts to Nicky Hunt and Shaun Brisley in Saturday's 1-0 win at Portsmouth but insists the players left out will still play a crucial role during the run-in with the O's pushing for a play-off place.

Nolan, whose side are seventh in League Two, said: "Look, we tried hard [in the window] and the president and his support team backed me massively and got them in for me. They've made our squad stronger and given competition for places which makes it even better for me and makes everything harder for me on a Friday picking the team.

"It was tough leaving some of those boys out today and I said that in the changing room afterwards. But the camaraderie and everything they've shown me since they were left out and after the game, when you've seen them with the boys, was brilliant."

He continued: "That's what I said because if we're going to try to push into those play-off positions and get up then that's what we need. We need a mentality where we're all in it together because I'm going to need that squad throughout this season.

"I'm going to need it in the next 16 games and I'm under no illusions that they're all going to be needed and all going to play a big part in getting this club up."