Town’s visit to basement boys Coventry today has special significance for in-form Lee Martin, fresh from converting his first senior penalty in the 5-1 midweek mauling of Championship leaders West Ham.

Martin, 24, recalled the last time Ipswich played Coventry, winning 3-0 at Portman Road in September, and how he watched the action unfold live on Sky Sports from the comfort of his own armchair at home in Kent.

He said: “Back then I was a long, long way from holding down a regular place in the side. The gaffer wasn’t even speaking to me at the time.

“I had collected a few yellow cards and when I picked up a red in our 7-1 defeat at Peterborough it sent him over the edge.

“He’d had enough of me and sent me to train with the youth team. I remember thinking to myself ‘How am I going to get back in the team?’

“But I also knew that things can change very quickly in football. It’s all about staying focused, being confident in your ability and making sure that when you do get your chance again you are ready to take it.

“And now, the situation now could hardly be more different.”

Photo: Action Images

oldbarrackdan added 08:49 - Feb 4 Well done lee for working hard. Some other players ie priskin and o'connor should have taken a leaf out of your book. Hyam and drury have also worked very hard to get back in the team.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:55 - Feb 4 good professional attitude, one of the few success stories this season...coyb
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tok2000 added 09:24 - Feb 4 just keep going
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Pettitt10 added 09:29 - Feb 4 well done lee, good bit of risky managing from PJ to put him back on track, COYB
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Duncan added 10:10 - Feb 4 Have to say fair play to jewell on this one he obviously needed a good kick up the back side, took one and us a better player for it
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das_bones added 10:28 - Feb 4 Well done lee for getting back into the first team. Its a pity some others dont realise how lucky they are to be playing football for a living, a la priskin, o'connor!
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taylor15 added 11:08 - Feb 4 quality player! we need to build the team round players like lee, who get their head down and work their socks off. build it round, cresswell, tommy smith?, hyam, carson, martin, JET, murray. COYB!
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Martus added 12:00 - Feb 4 wow its all about lee today isnt it?
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ernie added 12:26 - Feb 4 Why the hell was he living in Kent?
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irishtim added 13:15 - Feb 4 Well done. Had my doubts about you but your proving me well wrong. Its like having a 2mill new signing.
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arc added 13:53 - Feb 4 He lives in Kent? How odd. (Much better picture, by the way...)
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yorksblue added 16:38 - Feb 6 Just needs to practice penalty taking now.
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