Marvin Ekpiteta has praised Leyton Orient coaches Ross Embleton and Danny Webb for helping him to improve his composure in front of goal over the summer.

The O’s centre-back has been working on his finishing with assistant coach Embleton and first team coach Webb in training and it has certainly paid off, with the 22-year-old notching three times already this campaign.

Ekpiteta failed to score for Orient during his first six months at the club, but his height makes him a threat from set-pieces, as showcased against Maidstone United when he rose highest to head James Dayton’s corner past Lee Worgan.

The 22-year-old’s strike against Gateshead two weeks later was particularly important as it salvaged a hard earned point away from home right at the death and he also put the O’s back in front against Braintree Town recently with a well taken volley.

The former East Thurrock United centre-back has been one of the O’s most consistent performers this season, helping Orient keep five clean sheets alongside Josh Coulson in defence.

But Ekpiteta is also glad to be contributing at the other end of the pitch as well and he was thankful to both Embleton and Webb for helping him to improve as a player.

Asked whether goal-scoring has been something he has worked on over the summer, Ekpiteta said: “Yeah it is because last season I didn’t score one goal and everyone has been telling me that I need to start scoring because of my height.

“I’ve been working on it after training and before training with Danny Webb and Ross Embleton. They’ve been telling me it’s going to come and now I’ve had three already, so I’m hoping to get some more as well.

“I knew when I signed that there were things I needed to work on and they highlighted those areas and really helped me work on them. I want to improve as a player as well and that makes it easier for them to coach me.

“They’ve been really supportive both on and off the pitch and it’s been really good having them both coach me. A lot of players don’t have coaches that they can work with one-on-one or in a small group to improve, but I’m really lucky as I’ve got two that I can use.”