Lee Martin is delighted to be back in the Town side and doubly so to be playing in his favoured central position at last.

The 24-year-old has recently benefited from a change of role that has seen him switch into the middle after being typecast as a winger.

“I’m in my favourite position,” said Roy Keane’s £2 million summer of 2009 signing from his old club Manchester United.

”It’s the in-between role, helping Andy [Drury] and Luke [Hyam] in midfield and supporting the front lads.”

Martin was just 16 and regarded himself as a central midfielder when United signed him from Wimbledon in 2003.

But he added: “It was playing in the middle that got me my move but you know how it is — you show a bit of pace and they shove you out on the wing.

“The funny thing is that when Roy Keane came to watch me playing for the United reserves I was in the middle. I’d asked [then-United reserves manager] Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if he would give me a run there.

“But when Roy signed me he never gave me the opportunity to play there. Maybe he didn’t think I was strong enough or maybe he was looking for me to play out wide.

“I also made my first team debut for United in the more central position and now I feel I’m really capable of doing the job properly.

“I think the manager saw something he liked from me in training and I’ve taken the opportunity he has given me. It has worked out well for everybody.”

On Tuesday, Martin scored his first goal at Portman Road, a vital penalty just before half-time as the Blues hammered West Ham 5-1, taking his overall Town goals total to four in 38 starts and 14 sub appearances.

Photos: Action Images

Photo: Action Images via Reuters