Bonne Voyage! Macca Fit And Firing For Orient

By David Richardson

Striker Macauley Bonne has been scoring goals and loving life at revitalised Leyton Orient.

It's been a fresh start for both player and club this summer. Bonne, 21, found himself out of favour at League Two side Colchester United last season while Orient's struggles had been well documented, until Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins CEO - and O's fan - Nigel Travis took over the club in June.

Bonne broke into the U's first team in 2013, having been prolific for the U18s, scoring 46 goals in 54 appearances. But opportunities in the side became few and far between last season, and the young striker found himself on loan at Lincoln City and then Woking.

The Zimbabwe international ironically scored his last goal for Colchester against Orient as they were relegated from the Football League after a 112-year stay.

So perhaps a new chapter in the National League was right for both parties - Bonne, after scoring four goals in five games during pre-season, thinks so: "I spent time on loan last season in this league so I know what it's about, I needed to be somewhere settled and just have a place to call home, in a way," he told the National League.

"I feel so welcomed here and with the boys. Orient has always been a place I've liked to come and play at, and now I'm really happy to be a part of the club.

"There's a really good team spirit with everyone, despite the squad being together for such a short time. There's no divides between the young and old players, we are all in it together to achieve the goal at the end of the season."

On the club's target for it's debut National League campaign and on his own promising pre-season form, Bonne added: "Promotion is a big thing for every club, but I believe we have the quality and hunger to do it. Personally, I hope I can keep the goals coming from pre-season. I have my own target and I'm confident in myself to reach it.

"I've come back from the off-season fit and strong. I'm just itching to start now. It's probably been my best pre-season for minutes and scoring consistently, so I'm really enjoying it."

Orient's pre-season comes to an end tomorrow evening at home to Arsenal U23s before they kick-off the new season live on BT Sport at 12.30pm on Saturday at Sutton United.

Where next?

Ten-Grotenhuis Makes Rovers Move Hampton & Richmond Borough have lost midfielder Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis.
Grand Signing By The Coasters As Fylde Add Another AFC Fylde have completed the signing of experienced central defender Simon Grand.

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