Orient striker David Mooney returned to action against a Wolves XI

Slade does not want injuries to sabotage his plans

Orient manager Russell Slade plans to wrap his squad up in cotton wool until the start of the season.

The O’s boss who looks set to go into the season with a 20-strong squad does not want injuries to sabotage his side’s plans and is keen to protect the players as much as possible.

“Last season we had injuries from day one and I’m mindful of that,” said Slade

“We never really got going and players were playing who were not fully match fit.”

But things have been different this time around and the only player currently on the treatment table is goalkeeper Lee Butcher, who will be out until at least Christmas with a knee injury.

Butcher is currently with the team on the club’s four-day training camp and Slade added: “We have taken Lee with us to Leicestershire as he loves being around the squad and it’s good for him,”

All the other players are fit and new signing Michael Symes made his first appearance for the club on Wednesday in a 2-0 win against a Wolves XI.

While David Mooney also played in his first pre-season game having recovered from a summer ankle operation and a stomach bug.

“All the players are fit and available and that’s the way I would like it to stay until we play our first game of the season at Charlton,” said Slade.