LEYTON Orient could start the new season with a leaner and meaner Jason Demetriou.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been establishing himself in the Cyprus national team and honing his skills at the very top of the game.

This weekend he looks set to play in a World Cup 2010 qualifier against Montenegro.

“This coming Saturday could be a big day in my career," he said. "It's an official game and it would mean a lot to play a qualifier. Hopefully it will end with me being involved in some way. I'm certainly looking forward to it."

If everything goes to plan for Demetriou, he will play in upcoming qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and world champions Italy too.

But last Saturday he was in sunny Cyprus, playing for his adopted country in a warm-up game against Canada.

He spoke about how he is improving as a result of his second trip with the Cyprus team.

"This kind of experience is invaluable to me. My first two caps came against Serbia and Slovakia, and playing against teams with different styles means that you have to adapt your own game to combat that.

"A lot of teams at this level are very defensive and get men behind the ball, so I've had to work on improving my attacking and goal threat, so that'll undoubtedly be a benefit when I return to Leyton Orient.”

The game against Canada ended in a 1-0 defeat for Cyprus. However, the result was less important than the squad gelling as a team, said Demetriou.

And it was time well spent too.

"It was four weeks since I last played for Orient and the week before the Canada match was tough. There were a few double training sessions, but it's nice to be back playing football and training again.

“Training now will mean I can steal a march on players back home and I'm delighted to have been given this opportunity again.

“I can think of many worse ways than to spend time in the sun in Cyprus, training and getting ready for a World Cup game.“ The Canada game also provided Demetriou with some inspiration from an unusual source. Simeon Jackson, who scored the goal which sunk Cyprus, plays for Gillingham. They have just come up from League Two.

Demetriou said: "I spoke to Simeon afterwards and congratulated him on his goal. He was playing in League Two last season, but players like ourselves show that you can play international football, even if you are playing in the lower leagues.”

And he has learnt how a footballer’s life is different in different countries, Demetriou added.

“I've been accepted here and have made friends. Speaking to the boys here, they only get 10 days to two weeks off after the end of their season, so we're lucky having a longer break in England.”

The off-season has gone well for Demetriou so far. Orient fans recently made him their player of the season at an awards bash in Chigwell.

At the same event, he won the captain’s award, picked by skipper Stephen Purches.