New signing Jake Taylor insists it was important for him to move for the chance to get first-team football despite missing out on an FA Cup semi-final with Reading.

The midfielder joined Orient on loan last week until the end of the season, with the Royals facing a Wembley clash with Arsenal in the middle of April. Taylor has made 27 appearances for Reading this season but only featured three times since Steve Clarke was appointed manager in December.

The 23-year-old has no regrets about missing out on the showpiece game and believes playing regularly for Orient will be the best move for his career.

Speaking after the O’s 3-1 win over Port Vale, Taylor said: “It’s [the semi-final] probably the biggest game for a long time in the club’s history. Obviously to not be a part of that is frustrating but I think it was more important I came out here and played some games until the end of the season instead of being in the squad and not being involved.

“I haven’t been playing much at Reading so it’s nice to come here and play and hopefully keep Leyton Orient in League One which is where they belong.

“I haven’t played as much recently as I’d like to so it was nice to come here and start straight away. To get a win was the perfect way to start my first game for Leyton Orient.”

Taylor grew into the game and played a major role in Orient taking the lead, when he headed the ball on for Neill Collins to put into his own net, although his light-hearted claims for the goal appeared to be pushing it.

The midfielder joked: “I’ll try to claim the goal but I don’t think I’m going to get it. It was nice to play a part in the goal and if doesn’t go to me then never mind. I remember the cross came over to me, I headed it and then it went into the back of the net.”

Taylor was used on the right side of midfield on his O’s debut and is prepared to fill in wherever manager Fabio Liverani needs him during the run-in.

He said: “I like playing centrally but I’ve been playing on the wing for a bit at Reading so I can play out there as well. Wherever the manager wants me I’m more than happy to play there.”

The Wales international is surprised by Orient’s position near the bottom of League One but is convinced the quality in the squad will help them stave off relegation.

Taylor said: “They’ve got a great squad and have been doing well in recent years. But for whatever reason it hasn’t gone too well this year but the squad’s good, we’re looking forward to going into the last seven games and coming out with a positive end to the season.”

The midfielder is familiar with Orient players Jobi McAnuff and David Mooney from their time at Reading. But Mooney got a surprise on Friday morning when he bumped into Taylor at the training ground.

“I played with Jake at Reading and he’s a great little player,” Mooney said. “I didn’t see the announcement on the loan window deadline day. I turned up on Friday and he was sitting there and I said ‘what are you doing here?’ “It’s obviously great to see him. He’s a great addition and I don’t really know how we’ve managed to get him.

“He’s played almost 30 games this season for Reading but you’ve seen today his quality when he popped up at the back stick and set up the second goal.”