Aaron Cresswell has leapt to the defence of Ipswich colleague Lee Martin, often a target for fans’ criticism during his time at Portman Road.

But according to Cresswell the former Manchester United winger, whose four-year deal expires at the end of the current campaign, is one of the club’s most valuable assets.

The pair have regularly joined forces on the left of the Town side, although Celtic loanee Daryl Murphy has also lined up there and has started the last two games in the wide midfield role with Martin absent due to a hamstring injury.

Cresswell said: “They are different types but they have both shown they are capable of doing a great job for the team.

“Lee is more energetic but whoever is in front of me on the left we just go out to work hard and do the best we can for the team.

“Personally, I think Lee Martin is one of our best players but, obviously, some fans see it differently. He was unlucky with his miss in the Bristol game but if you look at the stats he does the most running of any player in our team and he’s also got the most assists.

“Alright, sometimes his crossing might not be the best — but that could apply to me, Carlos, Bradley, Stears or whoever is playing in the wide positions, because we don’t always get it right. But all things considered I believe Lee is one of our most important players.”

Cresswell confirmed that in his role as a left-back, which often sees him surging forward to supplement Town attacks, his priority is to help keep things tight at the back.

He added: “First and foremost — and Stears would say the same — our job is to defend. I’d always take a clean sheet before a goal, unless it’s to win the game of course.

“We are defenders and if we get forward to score goals or provide assists that’s a bonus. Stears didn’t look out of place against Middlesbrough last week and settled in brilliantly. It was a fantastic debut by him and he loved the clean sheet as much as any of us.”

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 10:58 - Feb 13 You can't fault Martin's effort or work rate. But the reality is, if he's 'one of Town's best', then there is little wonder we are in a relegation battle. In fairness, few of the midfield players have created much or scored enough this season. It's a key area for MM to address in the Summer.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:20 - Feb 13 I have been saying for a while that Lee Martin has no end product. The thing is, if he did have an end product to add to his energy and commitment he wouldnt be playing for Town in the first place!
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blueherts added 12:26 - Feb 13 All very interesting I think AC will be future LEFT MID and MM will find a proper LB As for LM we have to look at what he has done for us and he has been a real disappointment - He was dropped loaned out , came back well , got sent off , got dropped and has been in and out He beats players then tries to go back round them For the money we paid he is not the answer
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ericclacton added 12:26 - Feb 13 We have completely gone off the boil, play him if fit.
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walberswick added 12:47 - Feb 13 Has the crowd ever chanted his name for a goal or something?
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runningout added 13:02 - Feb 13 there are a lot of ex Man U trainees that turn out to be Dud.. Up to the likes of Lee Martin to change that trend
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Fatcatevans added 14:24 - Feb 13 Ericclacton. Martin didn't play 10 days ago. We beat boro 4 nil without him.
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MattinLondon added 15:39 - Feb 13 The fact that Lee Martin could well be considered one of the clubs most valuable assets says quite a lot of the quality of the present squad — average to not good enough. I have no doubt that Lee Martin has a strong work ethic on the pitch but like Norris a couple seasons ago the quality just is not there.
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honder_ITFC added 17:18 - Feb 13 If only we could put Martin's work ethic into JET's game...then we would have a player on our hands
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LukeITFC94 added 17:35 - Feb 13 He is just having a bad run of form. Need to back him not hate him! end of the day he COULD score the goal to keep us up then where will the haters be!
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h32 added 18:27 - Feb 13 Undoubtedly an incredibly hard working player - just that the final pass, delivery, goal, just isn't there . I still maintain that he has the potential to be a very effective attacking midfield player - play him in the middle (his preferred position) - and 'coach him ' to have the confidence to score goals from there. Shouldn't be that difficult.
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h32 added 18:29 - Feb 13 ...... and yes - I agree with Cresswell.
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tractorfromongar added 18:42 - Feb 13 Got to say I rate Lee Martin. He may not be a refined player, but he is fast, works hard, and has developed well. Doubt he is worth more though, and hope for his benefit he is not trying to be too greedy.
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No32 added 19:01 - Feb 13 Yeah....Ok. would have him around 17th on the list (IE Sub) if I were to put players in order of whom should be first on the team sheet from best to worst.
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Keaneish added 19:05 - Feb 13 I rate him although the next few games will be crucial as to whether he gets a contract or not! One of his best assets is running with the ball, turning defence into attack. Not worried about his crossing if he could sort his link up play with the front two out. Him and Chopra are rapidly following Leadbitter in the major underachievers category. Edwards, Chopra, Martin and McGoldrick 'should' be running riot most weeks!

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Umros added 19:42 - Feb 13 "No End Product", goals = Zero. Hmmm, great.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:44 - Feb 13 h32. Agree, good coaching will improve that side of his game.
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RegencyBlue added 20:28 - Feb 13 Always 100% effort but the end product is rarely there! If we havent been able to get his full potential out of him by now I dont see it happening at PR to be honest.
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walberswick added 07:30 - Feb 14 Cresswell: Martin One of Town's Worst Signings. Shoold have bee able ot pick someone of his ability for 500k. 2m + 4 year contract and left with no sell on value. Terrible. Shows how much Cresswell knows.
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martleshamitfc added 08:36 - Feb 14 14 goals in 186 career appearances is fairly poor return considering his potential!
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theobald1985 added 09:00 - Feb 14 good to see some positive comments about martin on here I have often defended him and hate the fact he has been picked on by a minority as the player to slag off. its terrible that we always pick on a player. martin needs confidence and i agree with comments about coaching. he must feels scared to take people on in case he does not win and then eveybody will moan again. mick does not play him whenever he is fit for nothing. maybe some of the slaggers on here would like to go toe to toe and tell big mick he is wrong..............no didant think so

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Fatcatevans added 10:49 - Feb 14 I'm sorry but his goals and assists per game are diabolical. check the stats they don lie. You can't teach goal scoring its instinctive. You can put people in certain areas but either they have the ability to finish a high percentage of the time or they can't. Unfortunately Lee comes into the latter category . We don't need to tell Mick he,s wrong. MM has to use him as we hav a shortage of wide players. That won't be the case after this season.

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theobald1985 added 13:14 - Feb 14 jet can play there cresswell can play there murphy can play there wordsworth as well lee martin is picked because mick and anybody with half a brain cell can see he is a good player not as a last resort
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Fatcatevans added 16:19 - Feb 14 You are arguing emotive lay. Figures prove he is inadequate for the role. MM needs Cresswell at fullback, JET is all mouth and no trousers. MM prefers Murphy in the middle which is where he should have been for 2 years if Jewell had noticed he hasn't enough pace for a winger. This leaves us with Hobson's choice Lee Martin. I'm sorry but your hero isn't,t up to it. Btw there's no need to get personal. We can disagree without references to the others mental capacity.

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theobald1985 added 17:14 - Feb 14 well your mental capacity may be fine but goes sadly missing when it comes to football. If u are to be believed everybodys rubbsih....i suppose this means that by defanition you are not actually an ipswich supporter as you dont support the players just run them down.L ee martin is not my hero but hate the fact people like you give him a rough time.the workrate is fantastic and are u telling me he got to where he is today by being rubbish ? pull the other one he is just short of confidence and people like you dont help. Cresswell plays behind him and can recognise the value of him and enjoys the benefit of his work rate he often looks like the player on the pitch with the most desire to win the game.mick has brought in loads of players but no replacement for martin. if he was so desparate and he really is hobsons choice mick would have signed a replacement asap. he didant your wrong me mick and cresswell are right

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