ELLIOT OMOZUSI is a player who needs a lift, and the 21-year-old says his move to Leyton Orient offers him just that.

The young defender has arrived at Brisbane Road from Premier League Fulham in order to kick-start his career.

Omozusi was cast out of the first team at Craven Cottage, just after he had begun to get a foothold in the team there.

Now O's boss Russell Slade has given Omozusi the chance to get his career back on track, by becoming a first-team regular this season.

The new signing told Guardian Series Sport: “I had to get out because my situation there (Fulham) was not the best.

“I played nine or ten games for Fulham, but there were four or five players in front of me.

“It was very frustrating for me not to be playing. I had started to play a few games, but then I didn’t for a long time.

“The excuse I got was that it was all about experience.”

So Omozusi was faced with that age-old bind which causes so much gnashing of teeth among young people.

He did not play because he needed more experience, and being inexperienced meant he never played.

Then Slade made an approach, and what he had to say was music to the ears.

"Mr Slade told me that from a personal point of view he wants me to play 40 games. That's the main thing for me,” said Omozusi.

"It’s a good feeling for me, so long as I can go and do it week in, week out."

Omozusi signed the offered one-year deal, with the incentive of a year after that if he proves himself.

He now has the chance to show his worth to the team, and justify the vote of confidence placed in him by Slade.

“To be honest I just want to play football and take it from there, then maybe we will see in January,” said Omozusi.

“Some of the boys who know the gaffer from Brighton say he is good manager.

“And I know he’s a good person as well, so you cannot go wrong.”

There has been a heavy emphasis on fitness during pre-season training, revealed the defender, who called the regime 'hard'.

“I cannot wait to get the games up and running,” he said. “Training has been hard as always, and everyone is sizing up everyone else.

“Hopefully the start of the games will mean the running sessions drop down a bit!”

Omozusi predicted that all the labour can reap dividends in the up-coming league campaign.

“Nobody expected Swindon Town would be in the play-offs at the start of last season,” he said.

“So if we can get a good run of games together, then maybe we can do something in League One as well.”