Midfielder Lee Martin says he never really felt part of a team during his first season with the Blues, but now hopes to establish himself at Portman Road having been recalled from his loan at Charlton by new manager Paul Jewell. The winger was brought back halfway through his season-long spell at the Valley and started Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Doncaster.

Martin, who made only his 11th start for Town at the weekend, says he was never given the chance to settle in having joined from Manchester United for a fee understood to be somewhere between £1.6 million and £2 million.

He said: “I had a season where I was out for four months, back in, then put under a lot of pressure to show what I could do in 60 minutes.

“I never felt properly welcome and part of a team. But now it’s a fresh start, whatever happened before is gone. I don’t hold grudges, it’s just how football goes and the loan spell I’ve just had has done me the world of good and now the ball’s in my court.”

The 23-year-old was delighted to be called into the starting line-up only two days after returning to the club: “The points were the main thing, but for me the personal touch was coming straight back in and the gaffer giving me an opportunity.

“It was a little bit of a surprise to come straight back in, but it’s an opportunity that you take and fingers crossed I can keep working hard and take these opportunities.

“I probably was surprised because I only came back in on Thursday. But I think that gave me a massive boost because I couldn’t stop smiling. It would be a massive boost for anyone.

“On Thursday we did a little bit of work on shape and team play, but you never really know until he names the team.”

Martin admits that he has felt pressure during his time at Town but says new boss Paul Jewell was at pains to make sure he was more relaxed prior to Saturday’s match: “Before the game he said just to really enjoy it, take away the pressure and go out and express yourselves, and hopefully I did that.

“I think you always feel a little bit of pressure. I never really had the run of games to get my confidence up and get back to my best.

“I’ve had a couple of loan spells that worked out well, the Charlton one went really well, I got a lot of game time there and enjoyed it. I’ve come back more mature and hopefully a better player.”

Right-footed, although preferring to play on the left, Saturday’s game saw Martin have spells on either flank and he says he enjoys that flexibility: “We started off with the 4-4-2 and went into a 4-3-3 and matched them up.

“The front three had a little bit of licence to swap over and you’ve got to play with a little bit of freedom and go out and enjoy it because at the end of the day it’s football, that’s what you grew up enjoying and that’s what you love about the game.”

The one-time Wimbledon trainee says he was delighted to get the call to come back to Town: “It was always in the back of my mind when there was the change of manager, but you never really know until you get that phone call. When I found out it was brilliant news. I wanted to come back and show everyone what I can do.

“I know I can do that but I need to do it on a regular basis now and I’ll be working hard to ensure that.”

Other than his mum missing Saturday’s game because she was sorting out his new house in home town Bromley, Martin’s biggest disappointment is that he’s unable to face Arsenal in Tuesday’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg: “I can’t play! I made my first start for Charlton in the Carling Cup at Shrewsbury.

"At the time it was a good day in that I scored, but looking back now it wasn’t the greatest day after all!”

Photo: Action Images

BYRNE_16 added 09:06 - Jan 24 You played well and fitted in to the team on Saturday. Just need a little work on your corners. COYB!
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bluepeter added 09:09 - Jan 24 give the boy a chance.
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Calmingwind added 09:10 - Jan 24 good lad
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bigfish added 09:15 - Jan 24 New boss and new start take it LM and show us all the player you are.
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brogansnose added 09:21 - Jan 24 Don't worry about it Lee, there wasnt a team last year more a collection players wearing blue. Hope it works out well for you this time around.
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bedsitfc added 09:23 - Jan 24 Join the promotion chase with us lee, not this year but feel next year or even the following season will be ours. We will be playing football again and all bad keane memorys will be gone.
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BLUEBEAT added 09:28 - Jan 24 blub-fest but good luck and make the best of your chance and pay ITFC back for the amazingly long contract you signed
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Keaneish added 09:41 - Jan 24 Anyone who can stop smiling knowing they're in the starting line-up in a Town shirt is alright in my books. Played well Saturday.
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Flip added 09:53 - Jan 24 Byrne - cmon give the boy some credit, he played well & I do remember 2 of his corners reached the head of our players 4 a chance, or would u prefer leadbitter & his first man corners?! Well played lee
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bluelady added 09:55 - Jan 24 interesting comments only confirming what we all knew i guess, putting people under pressure to peform will simply not work. Give them enouragement, advice and of course the odd boot up the backside when needed is a far better way to deal with people - also being aware that differant players react differantly to pressure. I thought Martin had one his best games in a town shirt saturday, ok didnt set the world on fire but i do feel there is more to come. I know he prefers left wing but he cuts in too much, did prefer him on the right which is where we are short if Edwards is going to stay at right back!

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Smithy added 10:03 - Jan 24 By far your best game in a Town shirt, just keep on improving and showing that willingness and you will win everyone over, good luck Lee.
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MaySixth added 10:26 - Jan 24 Lee - you can forget living in Bromley!
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arc added 11:58 - Jan 24 Hmmmm... the word "enjoyment" appears a lot here. Time for some hard work, methinks.
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Flip added 12:08 - Jan 24 Byrne - cmon give the boy some credit, he played well & I do remember 2 of his corners reached the head of our players 4 a chance, or would u prefer leadbitter & his first man corners?! Well played lee
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bluelady added 12:14 - Jan 24 arc hope you are joking, look where hard work got our team the last few months eh? Jewell is right to peform these guys need to enjoy themselves when playing, and not fear for every tiny mistake they may make. Of course they need to work hard to be a top player, but much easier with a smile on your face!
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MajorBlue added 12:45 - Jan 24 arc - If done in the right way then hard work can be enjoyable....
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hogster1970 added 12:54 - Jan 24 there was a few games early part of last season were he made some good intelegant runs unforchantly the rest of the team we still picking there back sides and there was no one to pass to, but yes thought he done well and the corners were a big improvement, bit of pace to the ball, and liked the long one as well as that can prove to be good idea, how ever disapointed he played in the carling cup how ever we do have super jamie and civille. but come on lee you can play well for us and wish you all the luck

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corshamblue added 12:56 - Jan 24 Agree with MajorBlue. The key is working hard and enjoying the outcome. Lee, show to us why we spent so much on your contract and become the first name on the sheet every week! We'll all enjoy that. COYB
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Lightningboy added 13:24 - Jan 24 Good to have you back...now keep hold of that shirt.
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cobbold_fanatic added 13:53 - Jan 24 interesting to read in the article about how flexible jewell was with the formation on saturday, i think this is so refreshing, we have a manager who is animated on the sidelines and actually makes game changing decisions instead of sticking rigidly to a pre proposed game plan!
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4dy added 15:12 - Jan 24 i think the most encouraging thing on saturday, which i havent seen for years, was the gaffer didnt make a change for the whole 90 mins!!!whens the last time you saw that,if that isnt a morale boost i dont know what is! lee martin had to play well cos civelli must be foaming at the mouth to to get a game,and played very well,under keeno,there were times i thought he had his boots on the wrong feet.did his job and shut me up.i think civelli plays against arsenal

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urbanblue added 15:48 - Jan 24 I said in a post some time ago that i could not understand why Keane didn't have confidence in his own judgement in regards to his signings. Instead it has taken another manager to bring out the best in them. Priskin, Healy and now Lee all starting to produce the type of form that surely Keane envisiged when he signed them. Well done Lee, and well done PJ ..... I can't stop smiling either !

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tractorboy2434 added 17:33 - Jan 24 Let's hope he can start repaying some of that fat fee, interesting that he has been called back and the loan boys have all gone back, I still think that there is a cash problem at PR and that we will only see bargain basement players in this season, which is fine providing we can stay up, I really don't see any huge improvement on bottom half and that is probably all we can expect now, best of luck PJ, you are going to need it.

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jas0999 added 17:36 - Jan 24 It's all down to Martin now. He has been given his chance. Think we all need to back him. Needs a run of 5 to 6 games. A decent start on Saturday, but will probably need to improve and I think he will. You don't get to play at Man Utd if your rubbish. Needs more confidence and take people on.
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