DAGENHAM & Redbridge’s new short-term replacement for Scott Griffiths will be a familiar face round these parts.

Matt Lockwood wrote his name into Leyton Orient folklore during his nine years at Brisbane Road, where he made over 320 appearances and found the net no less than 50 times.

But, after enjoying promotion to League One with the O’s back in 2006, the defender is now charged with helping the Daggers continue their surge for a similar result this season after signing on a month-long loan deal from Colchester United.

The 33-year-old has built up a wealth of experience over his playing career, which includes stints at Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers.

And that know-how was evident during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Port Vale at Victoria Road, as he fitted seamlessly into the left-back slot that Griffiths had occupied with such distinction before his transfer to Peterborough United.

Lockwood insisted he was glad to be joining a team on the up and is keen to help push John Still’s side closer to the summit of League Two – somewhere he believes the Daggers belong after witnessing their efforts against Vale, when Josh Scott’s 88th-minute goal rescued a point.

“I’ve only just come to the club and the lads are absolutely flying, they’re third in the league and for me it was a pleasure to come to a team that are winning,” said Lockwood, who was rated as the 47th best player outside the Premier League back in 2006 after a study by FourFourTwo magazine.

“Winning becomes a habit and the lads showed in the second half, after the gee-up at half-time, that we can prove we’re good enough to get out of this division.”

The Daggers will be able to call upon Lockwood’s experience when they travel to face League One high-fliers Huddersfield Town in the first round of the FA Cup on Friday.

The Terriers represent a tricky tie for in-form Dagenham, as they currently lie sixth after an impressive away win at Oldham Athletic last week.

However, Lockwood believes an upset could be on the cards. “I’ve been given clearance to play in the FA Cup. It will be a good game against Huddersfield, they’re a good side. We’ll go there as underdogs but you never know what could happen.”