Dean Brill is nearing a return to action for Leyton Orient, according to interim head coach Ross Embleton.

Last season’s first choice goalkeeper has not yet featured in pre-season due to ongoing problems with his shoulder and back, with the duties instead shared between Sam Sargeant and Arthur Janata.

Embleton had previously stated that Brill wasn’t risked at the start of pre-season against Harlow Town due to the 3G surface at the Harlow Arena, however the stopper also didn’t make an appearance in the matches against Hull City, AFC Hornchurch, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Dartford.

Speaking after the draw against Bishops Stortford on Tuesday, Embleton said: “Dean Brill trained extensively today. We were hoping that he would get some minutes tonight but it was decided today that he would go through a bit of a tougher training session with a view for him to be able to go again tomorrow if he came through it okay.

“The signs after training today were that he had come through that okay and we expect him to train with Reece [Ottley] under real pressure again tomorrow to give him that opportunity of playing some minutes in our next couple of games.”

Embleton also gave an update on midfielder Craig Clay, who was taken off during last Thursday’s narrow win against Rushden.

He said: “Craig Clay’s is purely just because he got stamped on at the Rushden game. It was very close at the weekend but we didn’t want to risk him. We said we’d leave him for tonight and he did some work this morning on the bike and some running but unfortunately for him the pain was still there.

“It’s nothing that we’re particularly worried about, it’s just waiting for that swelling and bruising to go down.”