Summer signing Gary Sawyer admitted the lure of a return to London and League One football enticed him to join Leyton Orient.

The 27-year-old defender left Bristol Rovers at the end of last season after a frustrating campaign dogged by injuries.

Sawyer, who was brought up in Enfield, jumped at the chance to move to Brisbane Road this summer after meeting boss Russell Slade.

Sawyer said: “I spent last year in League Two which obviously wasn’t a great time for me with injuries and on the football side of it. I’ve played in League One before and it’s a good league with some great clubs in it and some good stadiums, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.

“I knew of the manager before when I was at Plymouth and he was at Yeovil. But I didn’t know him and he sold me the club when I met him in the summer. Everything he promised he’s delivered so it’s been really good so far.”

He continued: “Playing in London is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

“It’s given me a great chance to do that and just the ambition of himself [Slade] and the way he wants to go about the game fits in with how I want to play myself. We just clicked at the meeting and he sold it really well.

“I was born in Enfield so all my family are from North London but I moved to the South West when I was young. There is no-one left in London now apart from myself. I’m a Tottenham fan and all my family support them after growing up around that area.”

The versatile left-back, who has also had spells with Plymouth and Exeter, admits the squad are hungry to get the new campaign underway.

The O's results have been mixed during pre-season but Sawyer still thinks the team will be ready once the campaign starts next week.

He said: “Pre-season is all about working towards things so we’ve got a good week until we start and I think we’re on schedule.

“I think it’s better once it starts that we go hell for leather but it’s always like that at the start of the season when they seem to cram games in. We’re looking forward to it and I think we’re on target for the start of the season.

“I think it’s just one of those things [results]. It’s hard in pre-season when everyone is finding their feet, especially myself and the other new lads. I think the goals will come because we’re creating the chances. We’ve got some good players in this team so I’m sure the goals will come.

“This is the cagey bit now because we’ve done all the work and it’s just really where the training goes back to normal. It’s a bit of a drag because you just want to start the season and I think we're ready to go now.

“The spirit in the squad is really good. As a new lad coming in the boys have been brilliant with everyone.

“We’ve got a real good group of lads with a real togetherness so I think we’ve got a real chance,” Sawyer added.