CHARLIE Daniels has dismissed as 'rubbish' reports that he nearly quit Orient this summer.

The 23-year-old, who is recovering from knee ligament damage, said he was not tempted away from Brisbane Road.

And he revealed he has set himself a target to be fit in time for the Southampton clash, on August 21.

Daniels, who has denied he behaved like a 'prima donna' during negotiations in June, told Guardian Series Sport: “There was a bit of interest (from other clubs) but I don’t take any notice of people talking, as it’s rubbish.

“It doesn’t bother me. Talk doesn’t do much.

“I’m pleased to be here. Nothing was tearing me away,” he insisted.

Daniels signed up on Friday July 4, almost four weeks after the deadline for signings set by the club had passed.

“It was little things in the negotiations with the club which I can’t discuss, all through the summer,” said Daniels.

“I’m an ambitious player and I want to be playing as high as I can. The gaffer’s an ambitious person. We both want to be going up the table, rather than down.”

Right now, Daniels' number-one aim is just to get fit as fast as possible.

He tore some knee ligaments in a training-ground clash with Adebayo Akinfenwa, who was then on trial at the O’s.

The incident threw a spanner into the works of boss Russell Slade’s preparations, and sparked a hunt for a replacement.

“The striker was in front of me and the ball came into him,” recalled Daniels.

“I’ve tried to nick the ball away from him and my knee’s just collapsed inwards, which tore it a bit.

“I was just hoping that I wouldn’t need an operation, that was the main thing,” he said.

“Fortunately it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it could have been a lot better.

“It’s annoying. But I’d rather have this at the start than at the end of the season.”

The injury blow happened near to the start of pre-season training, and Daniels is yet to return to the pitch.

“I’m back running,” he said. “I want to get to get back in training, possibly with a view to be involved in the Southampton game.

“I’ve been running pretty hard for the past few days and hopefully I’ll just kick on next week.

“It feels good,” he continued. “But I haven’t played, which is the main concern for me, as there is a difference between fitness and match-fitness.”