NEW signing James Walker is desperate to make an impression during his stay at Brisbane Road.

NEW signing James Walker is desperate to make an impression during his stay at Brisbane Road.

The 22-year-old, has signed a three-month contract with Orient after leaving Gillingham in the summer and is keen to try and win a longer deal.

Walker, who had a loan spell at Brisbane Road during the 2006-07 season, made nine league starts, plus five more from the bench and scored twice.

He almost struck again on Saturday and came close to grabbing a last-gasp leveller after coming on as a late substitute during the 2-1 defeat by Huddersfield.

Walker signed just 24 hours before the game and said: “I’m a local lad and I live just around the corner. I was here on loan four seasons ago and it’s good to be back.

“There are a lot of players who haven’t got a team at the moment, so I’m grateful for the chance and I just want to show what I can do.”

Walker, who played for the reserves in Tuesday’s 3-2 win against Gillingham, is set to keep his place in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Notts County and admitted: “I’m not expecting to start straight away, but I will be working hard in training and when I do get a chance I want to show the gaffer what I can do.

“I’ve signed a three-month short-term contract and there is not a lot of money out there to be fair and I’m pleased to have the opportunity.”

Walker believes the O’s are capable of recording their first away win in the League One this term at Meadow Lane.

“Notts County are a big-money team, but I think we can beat them,” he said.

“The spirit at the training ground is high and we have got a great football team here. I think we can beat anyone.”

Walker, who started his career at Charlton, can list Saturday’s opponents as one of his former clubs.

He had loan spells at Hartlepool, Bristol Rovers, Orient, Notts County, Yeovil and Southend, while he was at the Valley.

He later moved to Roots Hall and has played under O’s boss Russell Slade before. “I did really well when I was at Yeovil, that’s when I got my move to Southend,” explained Walker, who believed the O’s deserved better than to be beaten on Saturday.

“We played well in the first half and in the second half we took over,” he said.

“It was a great goal by ‘Coxie’ and that gave us a lift and we were on top of them after the goal and we could have gone on and equalised and even got a win out of it.”

Walker almost grabbed a stoppage-time leveller, but his effort was cleared off the line. “It was a shame that late chance didn’t go in. It was a great cut back by Jimmy Smith, but the defender’s cleared it off the line,” he said.

After a loan spell at Hereford United last season, Walker joined Gillingham in February and admitted: “During the last few months of last season I didn’t play that much.

“I was on the bench coming on now and again and I got a bit frustrated.”

After being released by the Gills, Walker went on trial with Colchester and then came to the O’s and he’s had no problems settling in.

“There are a great bunch of lads here and I’ll be busting a gut to do well,” he said.