Gavin Massey said he has enjoyed his first couple of weeks as a Leyton Orient player after joining the squad on their pre-season tour of Italy and in their first UK friendly.

The former Colchester United player, who signed a three-year-deal for an undisclosed fee, said he hopes the squad can build on their 2-1 win against Wealdstone with another win at Dover Athletic on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who assisted Jay Simpson’s equalising goal for the O’s, thought his side started off sloppy as they conceded a goal in five minutes but believes it is still early days.

He said: “Italy was nice to have some team bonding and I got to know the boys really well.

“I think I built up a connection on the pitch with a couple of the boys and obviously that is what pre-season is for, building up relations with the players.

“But I am going to have to learn more but it has been a good start so far.”

Massey believes the O’s were a perfect fit for him and felt he needed a change from Colchester as he looked for a new challenge.

“I knew there was some clubs looking at me and when Orient came sniffing I thought it was a perfect move,” he said.

“I see that this club is going in the right direction and I think it was the perfect move for me.

“The club put across their ambition to get out of the division.

“It will be nice to play with a team that has that ambition to win football games and hopefully promotion.

“They matched my targets and I am looking forward to hopefully achieving that with them.”

Massey said the game against his last club in particular stuck out for him in the fixture list after they were relegated from League One at the end of the 2015/16 season.

He said: “It sticks out for me as I am obviously going back there and playing against them but I am not going to have a problem with that.

“I am professional enough to go there and put in the right performance and everything.

“Obviously I have some friends there but at the end of the day when it comes to playing football you have got to get the three points and that is the most important thing.”

The midfielder, who made 178 appearances for the U’s and scored 21 goals, believes manager Andy Hessenthaler and his coaching staff have been great in getting the players up to match fitness.

“I think their training has been a different class,” said the former Watford youngster.

“The manager likes to put his points across and this has been good for me, he knows exactly what he wants from me and I know exactly what I have to do for him.

“It has been a great first ten days and now I am looking forward to the rest and hopefully a bright season.”

Massey also feels the squad looks strong for the season ahead as Orient secured most of their summer signings; the forward is one of eight new arrivals since Hessenthaler was given the manager’s position at Brisbane Road on a permanent basis.

He added: “I am feeling fitter day by day, and whatever the gaffer gives me if I play 45 minutes or so on Saturday will be good but I am feeling strong and feeling fit and the boys are as well.

“So we will see what happens on Saturday.”

Orient travel to another away pre-season friendly against National League side Dover Athletic ahead of the 2016/17 League two season.

Hessenthaler’s side will take on Dover at the Crabble on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off.

The O’s boss spent three seasons with Dover from 2007 to 2010 and led the side to back-to-back promotions. He could have gained a third but lost in the play-off semi-final to Woking.