Boss Paul Jewell has praised midfielder Lee Martin for taking his chance after being recalled from his season-long loan at Charlton earlier this month. The former Manchester United man was amongst Town’s star performers during Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Jewell said: “He’s come back having probably thought his chance had gone here. But he’s come back, come straight into the team and he’s taken his chance very well.

“He gives us something different, he carries the ball, he’s playing with confidence and long may it continue.”

Martin, who is 24 on Wednesday, says he found last year’s lack of first team involvement frustrating and that the loan switch to the Addicks did him the world of good: “I played month after month in the reserves last season and that knocks you.

“I needed to get away when I did. If I had stayed another six months, it would have only knocked me further back.

“I was basically transfer listed in the summer and while the previous manager was in charge there was a real possibility I’d be on my way.”

Photo: Action Images

Smithy added 09:17 - Feb 8 Yep been impressed when I really didn't think it was possible given his performances under Keane, which probably just shows you how bead Keane really was!
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bobble added 09:19 - Feb 8 all because the owner took his chance........his chance of keeping the team up despite all the waffle and absolute cr.-p we heard from the pro keane extremists about how you have to give him 3 years and its not the ipswich way to sack a useless manager.getting rid of keane gives us and all these possibly good players a chance a chance that never would have been allowed under the pro keaners extreme propaganda. and i tell you what i am enjoying our new chance and is there a pro keane fan out there who isn't ?

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PeteTheTractor added 09:24 - Feb 8 Hope Keane is watching you play now!!!
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itfc1981 added 09:41 - Feb 8 I doubt he would have left because of his wages. I'am being very mean (realastic) there though. He's playing very well, which is great to see.
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bluelady added 09:46 - Feb 8 i bet clubs are after him now! Really does look like he could become a prem player, has learnt not to be so greedy, is not easily knocked of ball and can put in a good tackle. Oh and in true prem style he can make a small tackle from the opposition look fit for a sending off with is diving and rolling around technique clearly learned at MAN U!
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BaronBaron added 09:56 - Feb 8 He is still pretty 'meh' I think
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brogansnose added 10:11 - Feb 8 Oi Bluelady you be careful, Ferguson will send his ugly son down from Peterborough after you. He probably picked the rolling around thing up when Ronaldho took the odd training session. Not sure if he did the' Intimidate The Ref' part of the course we'll have to wait and see.
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KenDubZ added 10:15 - Feb 8 Good man always knew we needed a winger like you now to get Danny back. :)
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bluelady added 10:22 - Feb 8 borgannose i will wash my mouth :-). He sure knew how to stand up for himself on saturday! just cant believe the lightweight powder puff he was before compared to now, surely thats not all down to Keane?
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Jacktor_boy added 10:31 - Feb 8 Never understood why Keane froze him out, he never looked any worse that any other player last season, and he is one of the few players we have who are able to run at defenders. Glad to have him back, it shows what a diffrence Jewell has made.
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stinkiusminkius added 10:34 - Feb 8 Amazing what a bit of man management can do. Surely keane will never get another job, as every positive that comes from Jewell just emphasises how bad keane was. Phew.
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corshamblue added 10:54 - Feb 8 One shouldn't underplay the impact of playing week-in week-out at Chalrton. He had plenty of good games there and grew as a player and boosted his confidence. Loans can sometimes work well.
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Lightningboy added 11:07 - Feb 8 Like having a new player...hopefully he can find the net a couple of times before the end of the season to help his confidence.
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Karlosfandangal added 11:13 - Feb 8 Well done Keane for bring him to the club. Well done Clegg on giving him a 4 year contract. Still have no idea why they brought him in just to stick him in the reserves and then loan him out. One of many very strange decisions
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brian_a_mul added 11:50 - Feb 8 He did look pretty poor when he first arrived. Maybe the big money move got to his head. A few hard challanges in his first games frightened him (along with Darth Vaders low opinion of Lee) and shook his confidence. He has beefed up alot and has got regular league football into him. However the dark lord did mention that Lee would come good one day. Now a stronger, smarter player, every one had low expectations (incl me) when he was recalled and PJ gave him a fresh start. He has it all to prove and is rising to the challange! Plus the new style of football suits him better. All these thing together have helped him. Its ironic that the coaching staff recommended PJ recall Lee immediately. Even the coaching staff were afraid of Mr Vader. Looking good Lee, now keep it up!!

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TheRef added 12:14 - Feb 8 you ont lose talent, the manager gives up on trying to get it out of you or you think its enough to wander through games, a point amade in a post earlier this week was an attacking player asked to be defensive aint gonna have the same effect, now he is getting the chance, he is doing well, wll done son
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Bergholtblue added 12:24 - Feb 8 I am not (or never was) a pro keaner, but he must take some credit for the lad's improvement, because going out on loan, in his words, was the best thing that could have happened to him. Mind you if it was true that he was effectively transfer listed in the summer, It does show what a useless plonker RK was. Invested a fortune on a player who he could not get the best out of so puts him up for sale.

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village_blue added 12:25 - Feb 8 Just shows how good man managementcan bring the best out of a talented player. Lee like Tamas Priskin look a different player under Paul Jewell. Mr. Evans must be a relieved man because it looked for a time £3 million plus wasjust going to leave the club.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 13:23 - Feb 8 Delaney, Healy, Martin, Edwards, Priskin, Scotland, Leadbitter - remind me which of these were a "waste of money" - Keane had lots of faults, but perhaps did have an eye for a player - well done PJ for starting with a clean slate
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urbanblue added 14:33 - Feb 8 Yes TractorRoy, Keane did have an eye for a player but he did not have the confidence in his own judgement to stick with them when the going got tough. Many great players in our history took a whiole to get going and Keane actually seemed very weak when it came to supporting his own investements. I am so delighted for Lee Martin. He clearly had talent and just needed it channelled in the right direction ...... Well done PJ. I'ts like having a new signing !

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Surco72 added 16:43 - Feb 8 TractorRoy lets calm down a little bit with the Keane had an eye for a player Martin has had a couple of good games far outweighed by the bad ,Healy is nowhere near championship standard and running and working hard against Arsenal wont change that and Jewell will soon get rid ,Tamas although flashes of brilliance was signed as a goalscorer and approaching his 50th game has managed 9 goals ,Leadbitter for me has never shown nearly £3 million pounds worth of value and has looked very poor all season , Edwards average so far ,Scotland has done well but does look like his best days have past and again think Jewell will try and off load which leaves Delaney who was shockingly bad when first signed and rightly dropped looks ok alongside Mac but when Mac not there looks bad again (Norwich).Not really a massive return on the £10 million plus Keane paid out ? Our stand out performers this season Mac,Norris ,Peters ,Wickham recently who have held the season together are nothing to do with Roy

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lucytown added 17:17 - Feb 8 Keep up the good work Lee and Happy Birthday for Wednesday itfc1981 - he took a cut in wages to go out on loan to Charlton - every post I read from you is negative about Martin.
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siralfstrackie added 17:26 - Feb 8 Pleased that Lee has taken his chance and managed to push on, just needs to work on that final ball (which can sometimes be a bit wasteful). Definitely Jewell's type of player and good to see us playing with a bit of width again (just need a decent right back and we're definitely top ten material) COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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confoosed_dot_com added 18:10 - Feb 8 @stinkiusminkius - best name on here! @corshamblue - sensible comments, loan did the world of good, although sure change of manager has also helped! COYB!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:27 - Feb 8 have you have had a half full glass? Surco72 added 16:43 - Feb 8 lets calm down
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