Leyton Orient midfielder Josh Wright is urging his side to make a positive start to their League Two campaign against Cheltenham Town on Saturday. The O’s play their first game back in the Football League after two seasons away on Saturday.

Orient’s First Six Games

Following a difficult summer in E10 after the passing of head coach Justin Edinburgh, the O’s play their first competitive fixture back at the Breyer Group Stadium. Tributes and remembrance events will take place pre match and Interim Head Coach Ross Embleton insist his players are ready for the occasion. Speaking to East London Advertiser “it will be an incredibly emotional day, but it has been an emotional period for this group and they are ready to embrace that emotion and take it on”. He added “not only to get a result against Cheltenham, but for the season beyond because it is not only about one game”.

After capturing the National League Title in April, there has only been a few changes in personnel with Louis Dennis becoming the latest addition from Portsmouth. Wright returned to the O’s as Justin Edinburgh’s last signing and highlights the need for a hungry squad in the season. Speaking to leytonorient.com “competition is healthy, if you haven’t got people pushing and driving you on every day, you go into a comfort zone. You have to have depth, you can’t do it with 11 or 12, you need 20 + and we have that”.

Orient’s Summer Signings

Despite the step up in levels, Embleton is confident his side will hold their own in League Two and has urged the fans to get behind the side at home. Speaking to East London Advertiser “I think there is an element of knowhow in this group whether it is actually League One or League Two experience. Hopefully the excitement and energy we create here at home and being back in the division we can turn games onto our terms”.

Despite having an unbeaten pre season ending with a 2-1 victory over an Norwich XI last weekend, Wright feels it can be slightly false. The 29 year old is set to make his debut tomorrow and stated to leytonorient.com “I am not a lover of pre season, the anticipation and waiting for the season is too much. The real stuff starts next week, we know that. We have got one week to prepare for a gruelling, big season and feels like it is going be one. We can’t wait, it’s going to be an emotional day, we want to hit the ground running with three points”.

Team News

Orient will be without the injured trio of James Dayton, Jamie Turley and Jobi McAnuff. Striker Lee Angol should be available after overcoming an illness while Dean Brill is expected to start in goal. Connor Wilkinson and Josh Wright should make their debuts at the Breyer Group Stadium.

Head to Head – Leyton Orient 6, Draw 5, Cheltenham 10

Last Meeting – 25/02/2017 – Leyton Orient 0-1 Cheltenham

The Last Seven Meetings Between Sides

• Orient have only won one of the last five meetings – W1  D1  L3
• Orient have lost their last two home meetings with the Robins
• Both teams have scored in only three of last nine meetings

Prediction – Leyton Orient 1-1 Cheltenham