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

morgz259 added 13:51 - Feb 3 A very well taken penalty, and put in a great shift Tuesday night. Keep up the good work at Cov Boys. COYB
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theblueginger added 14:15 - Feb 3 I will vote for lee as player of the season. He puts such a shift in and he seems loyal and committed to the cause. bluebud most footballers are tight-fisted much of the time.
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nitroblue1970 added 14:16 - Feb 3 always seemed a bit lightweight to play central mid for me but there was one incident against east spam on tuesday that made me smile, Nolan had used his body to shield martin off the ball then laid it off, it came back to him and Martin clattered him and won the ball and left Nolan on the deck! Good work!
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PimsNumber1 added 14:31 - Feb 3 YES I SAW THAT ( NOLAN) . HE MUST HAVE TOUGHENED UP TO KNOCK HIM ABOUT. HES JUST LIKE A NEW SIGNING. sorry caps ! I see phil mentions 2 mill signing fee. i thought 1.5 was too much !
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Brazils_Hair added 15:08 - Feb 3 Keep up the good work Lee. I think that you and Drury have made the places in the team your own and are potentially the foundation stones of our future. COYB!
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Michael11 added 15:10 - Feb 3 He's a good player starting to show his worth, quite like this formation with two good midfielders in Drury and Hyam keeping things tight behind him, Hopefully this can be the start of something. COYB!
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TractorBeezer added 15:14 - Feb 3 Well done Lee. Arguably our most improved player and almost like a new signing!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 15:16 - Feb 3 Have always rated Martin, his main failing can be his lack of end product at times , but his pace, skill and work rate are excellent. This position seems to suit him down to the ground. Would like to see the current midfield five given a run of games now with the possible exception of Carson for Murphy.
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Taricco_Fan added 15:19 - Feb 3 I'm really pleased for Martin. He had a tough time early on his Town career so it's nice to see him finally showing his true potential. It's kind of hard to believe that it's taken so long for him to become a first team regular given his obvious ability. Martin is the type of player we should be building a team around.
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clarkey85 added 15:20 - Feb 3 So glad were startin to see players like martin an jet fulfilling there promise lets jus hope they carry it on and push up to mid table and beyond that next season! Strange how tgings look so promising all of a sudden massive game saturday they have to keep up the hard work or all that hard work will b undone!
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craigyboy10 added 15:45 - Feb 3 I really like this martin! think hes going to be a top player for us.. he aint scared to take a player on he can score some cracking goals! i agree with the comment above ha! he is our david silva! can unlock a defence
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ITFC4daprem added 15:49 - Feb 3 keep it up
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lawshallgirls added 16:03 - Feb 3 Been great this season for us hopefully can get us out of this mess along with the rest of the team Bring on Coventry!!
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saffronblue added 16:25 - Feb 3 Runs like Giggs, tackles like Scoles keep it up fella
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chepstowblue added 19:22 - Feb 3 A revelation this season,has hit top form since being labelled"lazy and ineffective" by yorkshire blue!!.... a man who obviously knows his stuff!!? Terrific work rate allied with natural talent makes him the most important player in the side currently,offering creativity and an eye for goal,must be the 1st player on the sheet at the mo.
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jas0999 added 21:27 - Feb 3 A player publically slated by PJ ... well done martin, shame on you PJ. PJ OUT
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TractorBoy666 added 21:53 - Feb 3 Shut it Jas.
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harlingblue added 00:08 - Feb 4 I thought that were absolute rubbish as a wide player, couldn't cross, a disaster in the tackle,...BUT in the position that you are playing now you look creative, exciting, hard working...well done son, you have proved me wrong.
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SamWhiteUK added 22:08 - Feb 4 Love all the people coming out saying " he's our best player" etc, when countless people were slagging him off before. My player of the season last season and my dad laughed at me, who's laughing now? Martin and JET i think are absolutely quality, I though Drury showed promise when he first came, and was surprised when he was loaned out, guess we can just say I've got an eye for potential? ;)

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