Town skipper Carlos Edwards is ready to wind up former team-mate Lee Martin on his return to Portman Road with Millwall on Saturday.

Martin, 26, who snubbed a new deal in favour of joining the Lions in the summer, was regularly in hot water with referees during his four years with Ipswich.

Signed by then manager Roy Keane from Manchester United for a fee now understood to have been £2.5 million in 2009, he was dismissed three times and received 27 bookings in his 106 appearances for the club.

An unimpressed Keane shipped him out on loan to Charlton and although successor Paul Jewell recalled him, he later refused to speak to the player as his disciplinary problems mounted.

Edwards, 34, said: “I already have my studs sharpened for Lee. You don’t have to try very hard to wind him up. It is very easy.

“I could just say something out of the ordinary to him and he might snap or I could yell at him and the next thing you know he does something silly and gets sent off.

“But, saying that, I’m not that type of player. Maybe I will just whisper in someone else’s ear and let him do it!”

Martin did not feature in Millwall’s 1-0 home defeat by Yeovil on the Championship's opening day having suffered a knee injury during pre-season, but came off the bench towards the end of Tuesday’s 2-1 home win over AFC Wimbledon in the Capital One Cup.

Edwards added: “My missus says I get on her nerves but she never gets wound up as easily as Lee. He would even get wound up in the changing room sometimes.

“One of the players would say something and he would bite like a great white shark taking a lump out of the ceiling. He is that gullible. The other teams all knew what he was like and that he would react.

“I would react if I got racist abuse or someone spat at me but the rest of the time I’m so laid-back I could sleep in water. That’s my main weakness, being too laid-back. I’m getting better, slowly but surely, but I need to improve drastically.”

Despite Martin’s notoriously short fuse Edwards is keen to emphasise that he won’t really be going out of his way to land him in trouble with the officials.

The club captain said: “I’m happy for Lee. I had a nice time here with him but I hope he doesn’t have a nice time here again on Saturday. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season, except when he plays against us.

“Saturday will be about making sure we do what we have to do and not about worrying about Lee Martin and Millwall. It is going to be a battle — a war — and we need to come out on top.

“I never managed to speak to Lee before he left. Only he will know why he made that decision. Maybe he thought the money they offered him was rubbish or he just wanted to move closer to home.”

Photo: Action Images

lucytown added 09:47 - Aug 9 Carlos Edwards no better than Henri Lansbury at Forest
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Alwaysablue added 09:51 - Aug 9 Lee Martin won't be receiving a 'warm' reception from me as I believe I could have achieved what he did for us, if not more
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Bergholtblue added 09:58 - Aug 9 I won't applaud him as I don't think he did enough whilst at the club. I won't boo him either in case that fires him up. A stony silence is what he will get from me when they read his name out.
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muccletonjoe added 10:16 - Aug 9 I think we will get edged out of it by lee martin and millwall , but it will be an important step in picking up our form and getting a settled team
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Michael11 added 10:50 - Aug 9 To be fair, he doesn't sound like he's fully joking here. Lee always gave 100% but i'm pleased he's playing against us rather than for us. Just hope he doesn't have the last laugh!
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blueherts added 10:54 - Aug 9 In the few games I have seen him , Taylor , IMO , is better footballer than Martin - Anderson - not sure , and as he is almost the direct replacement - I hope he can kick into gear for us As for Lee , well his goal against Birmingham away was a beaut but as a wide man he couldnt beat an egg Too often he got booked and then spent the rest of the game afraid to go in fear of getting sent off Never gonna miss him but will give polite applause tommos - just want to get 3 points and get up and running

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peewee added 11:45 - Aug 9 Its gamesmanship if thats a word lol talking the talk. Martin tried so I dont dislike him hyping up the game is a gd start
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IvorFeeling added 13:11 - Aug 9 what price for a martin goal, then to be sent off and town going on to win? That would be a good return :-)
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Jackie added 13:15 - Aug 9 This is hilarious. I'm surprised he lasted so long if he's that 'sensitive'. A bonus should be given to whomever gets this little girly man sent off.
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Fatboy added 13:29 - Aug 9 Going back three years, Alex Bruce came back to PR with Leeds, got wound up, got sent off and Town went on to win. I'd settle for a repeat on Saturday.
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