Aaron Cresswell has leapt to the defence of Ipswich colleague Lee Martin, often a target for fans’ criticism during his time at Portman Road.

But according to Cresswell the former Manchester United winger, whose four-year deal expires at the end of the current campaign, is one of the club’s most valuable assets.

The pair have regularly joined forces on the left of the Town side, although Celtic loanee Daryl Murphy has also lined up there and has started the last two games in the wide midfield role with Martin absent due to a hamstring injury.

Cresswell said: “They are different types but they have both shown they are capable of doing a great job for the team.

“Lee is more energetic but whoever is in front of me on the left we just go out to work hard and do the best we can for the team.

“Personally, I think Lee Martin is one of our best players but, obviously, some fans see it differently. He was unlucky with his miss in the Bristol game but if you look at the stats he does the most running of any player in our team and he’s also got the most assists.

“Alright, sometimes his crossing might not be the best — but that could apply to me, Carlos, Bradley, Stears or whoever is playing in the wide positions, because we don’t always get it right. But all things considered I believe Lee is one of our most important players.”

Cresswell confirmed that in his role as a left-back, which often sees him surging forward to supplement Town attacks, his priority is to help keep things tight at the back.

He added: “First and foremost — and Stears would say the same — our job is to defend. I’d always take a clean sheet before a goal, unless it’s to win the game of course.

“We are defenders and if we get forward to score goals or provide assists that’s a bonus. Stears didn’t look out of place against Middlesbrough last week and settled in brilliantly. It was a fantastic debut by him and he loved the clean sheet as much as any of us.”

Photo: Action Images

tomitfc added 06:54 - Feb 13 'He's got the most assists?' Really though..
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Marcus added 06:55 - Feb 13 I don't doubt Martin is a very hardworking player. An engine on the wing or in a free role. However his inability to hit the target and notch a few goals is incredibly frustrating. It's not just him but in a winning side goals come from across the midfield, occasionally from full backs and defensive players contribute by pushing forward for set pieces. Tommy Smith has shown he can do that when he's in form. Martin, as a winger should be getting an assist at least 1 in 3-4 games and notching at least 6-7 goals each season. He's just lacking the goals, and quite dramatically too.

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mawwam added 07:04 - Feb 13 I rate Martin, everyone moans about our teams effort on a regular basis, but Martin always looks to be giving his all the whole game, I think he's up there with the best of our squad! I've often left the games thinking he was one of the best on the pitch that day, only to hear fans slating him on the radio phone in! I believe a lot of them have just built a hate for him over one or two passed mistakes, and can't get beyond that!

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village_blue added 07:05 - Feb 13 So most fans say that there is no end product with Lee but as he has the most assists to his name this season this can't be totally true. Yes I agree that his crossing could be better but the same could be said of Carlos the other wide player. Lee's workrate is second to none and no one works harder for the team when we don't have the ball Getting back to Carlos I think that it's time for Mick to show he has the same bottle as PJ and he should be dropped or if you prefer rested for a few games just like PJ dropped his captain Leadboots last season.

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Pettitt10 added 07:34 - Feb 13 Agreed. One of our better players, we look totally flat without him and Mcgoldrick in my opinion. The goals came last season, and this season he's been unlucky in that area but has still played well defensively and creating chances, e.g against Charlton away, he won us the game. but he is not just to blame, the rest of midfield haven't turned up in front of goal either along with most of our strikers! Him and Cresswell have a great partnership down the left and would be a total mistake to let him go at the end of the season.

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slowerball added 07:55 - Feb 13 Interesting that Cresswell mentions his own crossing ability... I won't be popular for saying this, but I'm not impressed with Martin, although he does run around a lot, nor am I Cresswell's biggest fan - he had another very ordinary game at Ewood Park. Perhaps if Wordsworth gets a run of games, his success at actually getting the ball beyond the first defender will be better than Cresswell's.

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dav86 added 07:59 - Feb 13 No one can question his work rate, it's great. But as a winger you have to be able to Finnish and quite frankly he's awfull!
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Popeye added 08:02 - Feb 13 "You are the weakest link, goodbye"
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Stato added 08:31 - Feb 13 Martin & Edwards both have a decent number of MOM awards in the match report section on this site. Martin gets criticised for not scoring enough goals but usually the goals come from centre midfield rather than wings. We need a new John Wark !!
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Wickets added 08:43 - Feb 13 He would be one of our best if there was an end product. Been worried lots of late are we good enough to stay up i do hope so.
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bluefeast added 08:49 - Feb 13 Cresswell has blurred vision. Martin runs more than every player on the planet , but a football pitch is not an athletics track.
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Karlosfandangal added 08:51 - Feb 13 Mawwam You are not far wrong I think town have always had a player who they love to boo, just look at Tommy Miller Richard Wright, Scotland got his far share at the beginning but now he is wanted back. Have to say with the asset thing it's not hard to be top when you have only scored a handful of goals, maybe if we had more assists we would at the other end of the table.

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Fatcatevans added 08:54 - Feb 13 This really is a non story. What else is Cresswell gonna say? The fact remains Aaron despite him running around in front of you his finishing and crossing as you say are poor at best. His tackling is of the scholes variety and unfortunately for him he has no way justified what we paid for him. He will be replaced close season I reckon
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hollywoodginge added 09:02 - Feb 13 Lee Martin in my opinion is a very good player when utilised correctly, I use that term as opposed to played in his best position as he hasn't really got one, he is not, has never been and will never be an out and out winger, he is not a striker nor centre mid. Unfortunately for Lee we can ill afford to play to his strengths which requires a lone striker, giving him a roaming role in the top hole. We need to stick with 442 which IMO doesn't accommodate him. Shame cos I do like the energy he brings, I'm certainly not gonna come on here and slag him off. You don't play for Sir Alex if you are a mug.

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JustSpivvyChops added 09:06 - Feb 13 If you want a lurcher, buy a lurcher.............................nuff said.
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gazmangaz added 09:30 - Feb 13 He may well be one of our best but thats the problem, if he's one of our best we need a massive clear out as the squad is division 1 standard at best. Most of the players work hard during the match as any of us fans would, that doesnt mean they or us are good enough in this league !
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roytheboy added 09:34 - Feb 13 Nobody should fault Lee for his efforts, there are certain players at ITFC who could be excellent Footballers if they put in the same levels of effort, energy and enthusiasm as Lee Martin does, however he needs to improve his ability in front of goal.
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mawwam added 09:37 - Feb 13 Popeye - Worthless input, quoted from a 13 year old games show phrase that became very annoying 13 years ago!! Towns stated weakest link changes regularly, from no scorers, no complete RB, no CD, etc etc, Lee Martin even with his weak finishing is far from the weakest link in our squad, in my opinion we are weakest in CM creatively, hoping that Wordsworth can add to that.

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neillrumsey added 09:37 - Feb 13 Nobody with any football knowledge can say that all Lee Martin does is run around. He has pace energy and something many of our players lack - a first touch. The negatives are there for all to see ie lack of goals and some poor crosses. If he had these components he would be playing Premiership football. We must try an encourage as he is a good player for this standard of football.

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mawwam added 09:43 - Feb 13 neilrumsey, completely agree
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bluemingood added 09:50 - Feb 13 I think most fans, like me think he is great really. What is causing the boos is his reluctance to sign a new deal. It feels like he id desperate to get away.
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BergholtBru added 09:53 - Feb 13 As a player, Cresswell obviously has more idea about football than some of the over crititical fans. I agree with every word he says.
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MickMillsTash added 09:59 - Feb 13 I don't think Martin is the sort of player McCarthy rates so can't see him being here next year. Also I would think Martin's agent has a different club lined up already or we would be hearing - the I want to stay / love the club, area, fans etc statements. You can see promise in Martin but over 4 years he has not performed- yes a good patch of form for 3-4 months under Jewell, but is that enough for a 3 year contract? if we trust McCathey we must trust him to find a better and chepaer alternative. I thought Cresswell was good at Blackburn, he defended well- an improvement under McCarthy and once actually got to the bye line. With a stronger looking defence behind him he needs to do more going forward.

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Marshalls_Mullet added 10:09 - Feb 13 Key issue is he is not worth £12,500 per week. Slash that massively and he would be worth keeping, but if hes looking for a similar deal then goodbye.
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Lightningboy added 10:57 - Feb 13 Wonder if Mick has considered moving Cresswell onto the left of midfield?..got more of an eye for goal than Martin and a better crosser.
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