Russell Slade stressed that fitness was the most important thing to focus on at this stage after watching his Leyton Orient side enjoy a 5-3 victory at Sutton United.

It’s been over two months since the O’s last took to the field but they made a winning return as goals from new signing Ryan Brunt, Kevin Lisbie, Dean Cox and a brace from Afolabi Obafemi saw them come out on top.

Slade handed starts to five of his new signings while goalkeeper Ryan Allsop replaced Jamie Jones at half time.

The goals were free-flowing at Gander Green Lane but the manager stressed that fitness was his priority at this early stage of pre-season.

“We are just working on that fitness at this moment in time. The shape and structure will come as we play more games,” he explained.

“It was entertaining – there were eight goals. There were some good things and some not so good things defensively but it has been a long week already and we have trained again this morning but everybody has come through it.

“The most important thing is people not picking up injuries. Nobody picked up an injury in the first period and I think everybody was safe after the second period so that was important to us.”