Leyton Orient’s Dale Gorman has praised Justin Edinburgh and believes the head coach’s mutual respect for the players has generated a real team spirit in the dressing room this season.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international has had to wait patiently for his chance after moving to the Breyer Group Stadium from Stevenage in the summer, having missed the first month of the season as he continued his recovery from the fractured ankle he sustained against Coventry City in April.

Despite making his debut as a substitute against Gateshead in August, Charlie Lee and Craig Clay’s excellent form has kept the former Stevenage midfielder out of the starting line-up, with the 22-year-old largely having to settle for a role as an impact substitute from the bench.

But Gorman’s patience was rewarded at the weekend against AFC Fylde, as he made his first National League start of the season after Clay was forced to play at right-back following Myles Judd’s suspension and Sam Ling’s injury.

The 22-year-old could now enjoy a run in the side as well, with Lee set for period on the side lines after he limped off in the opening 10 minutes at Mill Farm with a knee injury.

Gorman says Edinburgh’s positivity has hugely benefitted him since his arrival in the summer and believes the entire squad are enjoying their football under the 48-year-old at the present moment.

Gorman said: “To be fair, he (Edinburgh) has been brilliant with me ever since I came in. I was injured at the start but he was nice and positive to me every day. He was just telling me to take my time and ever since I’ve come back, he’s been brilliant with me. I’m really enjoying playing under him at the moment.

“I think it’s the same with everyone as well, because the players have a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of respect for the players. We’ve just got that bond at the moment where everyone is on the same page and we’re just trying to keep it rolling.

“It’s a great group. Everyone gets along and we’ve got a strong bond. Once you have that in the changing room, it’s hard to break it up and it will take a good team to try and break us up this year.”

Competition for places has certainly been a common theme among the Orient squad this season with the O’s spoilt for choice across all areas of the pitch.

One of the East London side’s strongest areas is midfield, with head coach Edinburgh having Gorman as well as Alex Lawless at his disposal alongside Lee and Clay.

Captain Jobi McAnuff can also play in the middle as well, as he did against Fylde and Hartlepool United, while Lawless has been left out of the O’s match-day squads in recent weeks having started the club’s opening two games of the season.

Gorman believes that competition for places is benefitting the squad and feels Orient have the best midfield in the National League.

On the competition in midfield, the Northern Ireland Under-21 international said: “The four of us all get along and you’re playing with each other every day in training. You try and make it as competitive as you can as you’re trying to make each other better.

“Playing against them boys in training, you’re not going to play against better ones on a Saturday. So to have that opportunity makes us better as a team.”