Influential Leyton Orient midfielder James Dayton says he is fully fit and raring to go as the O’s get ready to kick start their pre-season preparations ahead of the new National League campaign.

Orient’s players were due back for their first day of pre-season training today and will play their first friendly next Saturday away to Harlow Town, before jetting off to Portugal for a warm weather training camp.

For Dayton, it has been a frustrating 2018 so far after he missed the second half of last season due to a hamstring injury sustained against Aldershot Town in January which ultimately required surgery.

The news was a blow for Orient after the midfielder established himself as a key member of the side after arriving on a free transfer last summer, scoring three times in 32 appearances in all competitions.

But the 29-year-old is now fully fit and ready to take part in pre-season training, as the O’s gear up for a promotion challenge under Justin Edinburgh this season, having finished in 13th place last time around.

Speaking to Leyton Orient’s website, Dayton said: “I’m feeling in good nick. I feel that if the season had run another two or three weeks, I might have probably pushed myself to see if I could have got back.

"With that not happening, I think we agreed that I could have a bit more time in my recovery to make sure I was fully fit. I feel strong. I’ve had a lot of time to work on the strength in my legs and that goes down to the medical department. So I’ll be ready for the first day of pre-season.

“It was a season I personally enjoyed a lot. I’m disappointed and gutted that I got the injury. I thought I performed relatively well on a personal note and it’s good that the team picked up under the new manager towards the end of the season. I was devastated I couldn’t be a part of that.

“I would like to have scored a few more goals but other than that, I was quite pleased. I felt that when the new gaffer came in, I started to go again but unfortunately, I picked up the freak injury that I had. I believe that if I had stayed fit, I would have finished way ahead of whoever finished at the top of the assist charts.”