KALVIN Orsi says returning to training this week after five long months under lockdown has hugely lifted his spirits - and now he wants a season to remember.

Orsi burst on to the scene in the new year after making the step up from part-time football last summer.

He quickly became a fans' favourite only for the season to be wiped out by the pandemic.

The former Brechin man admits he struggled during the shutdown and says he is delighted to be back working with his team-mates every day.

Orsi told the Tele: “I’m so happy to be back, it’s given me a new lease of life.

“Being stuck in the house for months has been murder.

"To be back out kicking a ball again has been fantastic.

“Just being round all the boys again is terrific - as a player most of your time is spent around your team-mates.

“When you have that taken away from you you lose a part of yourself and it’s a big dent to fill."

Orsi, 23, is determined to make up for lost time and ready to stake his claim to replace top scorer Bob McHugh following his exit in the summer.

He said: “I was in a really good place before the end of the season arrived and I’ve been really tuned in to keeping myself in a good condition.

“I’m ready for whatever is thrown my way.

"I hope that I can hit the ground running the same way that I did when I got my chance last season.

“I’ll be one of the older strikers in the squad this year, as weird as that is to say, but I need to step up to the plate now and take a lot of the responsibility now that Bob and John Sutton aren’t here.

“I’m more than capable of doing that and up for the challenge."

Orsi knows his form before the shutdown will have raised expectations but insists he will relish that.

He told the Telegraph: “I’m ready for maybe being looked to that bit more.

“I’m competitive and the fact that people are expecting more than hoping now gives me a good deal of confidence.

“I hope I can add some more goals to my game, especially having a full-season at it this time around."

Orsi believes he will feel the benefit of that year under his belt in the Championship, both physically and mentally.

And he is determined to repay the faith shown in him by boss David Hopkin.

He said: “One of the things that excites me for this year is that I’ve now got a year of full-time football behind me - I’m not going to be playing catch up this time around.

"Having come from part-time football my legs are going to be more used to it.

“I pulled my hamstring towards the end of pre-season last summer and I was playing through it because I was desperate to make an impact.

“I’m a lot more mature in that sense - I now know that it’s okay to take a day off if your body really needs it.

“I’ve loved every minute of my time at the club so far and I owe much of that to the gaffer.

"I’m not going to let him down.”