Jay Simpson insists it is up to him to hold down a Leyton Orient first-team spot after the former Arsenal striker finally got off the mark for his new club.

The 25-year-old netted his first goals for the O’s in his 13th appearance since joining them this summer. Simpson’s brace capped an impressive performance as Orient coasted to a 2-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.

Simpson said: “I’m delighted to finally get off the mark and glad to get two so hopefully it will be the start of a few more to come. I was disappointed not to get the hat-trick but at least I was getting quite a few chances in the game which I’m happy about so two wasn’t a bad return.

“I want everyone to know what I can do and want to enjoy my football. When I get the chance I have to go out there and take it to get into the team so hopefully I’ve done enough to get the nod for Saturday and repay the faith at the weekend.

“I want to get a run in the team. But the boys that have been playing have scored goals so you can’t really argue with that but hopefully now I will be able to get a run. If I get the nod on Saturday it’s down to me to try and stay in the team.”

Simpson was one of a number of high-profile summer signings for Orient which included Jobi McAnuff and Darius Henderson. But those arrivals have not translated into the anticipated success in the league and the club recently lost manager Russell Slade after he resigned to take the Cardiff City job.

Simpson said: “If you look at all the things going on at the moment the club are in transition. It happens to quite a few clubs in this situation where they might not get the results they want. But we’re ten games in and we all want to do well and achieve. We’ve been working on the training pitch to put things right.

“We needed a win tonight and hopefully we can build from that. The results haven’t been going our way but we’ve been working hard to try and put that right.”

The striker was asked if the uncertainty surrounding the permanent replacement for Slade was affecting the players. But Simpson insisted the team were just trying to stay focused on their own jobs.

“To be honest, you probably know more than me,” he said. “I’m not sure what’s going on but it doesn’t change anything when it comes to Saturday. We need to try and get three points and that’s what the boys are focusing on. It can be a distraction but we leave it to the board and the directors. It’s their choice and we have to just keep working on the training pitch and make sure we turn up when it comes to the games.”

Simpson had a spell playing for Buriram United in Thailand last season but decided he wanted to come back to England. But he admitted the severe heat meant training and matches were at a completely different intensity which initially stalled his progress after returning to London.

The pacy forward said: “It was a big difference when I was away because it was 38 degrees so you can’t really run around. To come back it took me a while to get up to the pace but I’m feeling fitter and stronger so I’m starting to enjoy myself.

“When I came back I wasn’t doing anything for about four weeks. I had a little knock so wasn’t really training or playing at the time. Fitness wise was down because the work you can do out there in the heat is limited. I knew I wasn’t match fit but training wise felt good. But the move from training to matches is a big difference.”