Competition Driving Martin On

Chris Martin accepts that it will be no easy feat to force his way into Gary Rowett’s starting XI at Derby County.

The 28-year-old is back with the Rams after spending almost all of last season on loan at fellow Sky Bet Championship side Fulham.

The Scotland international is competing for a spot in Rowett’s frontline for the upcoming 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship season, but he isn’t alone.

The likes of Matej Vydra, David Nugent, Darren Bent, Johnny Russell, Nick Blackman and Andreas Weimann, as well as youngster Mason Bennett, are capable of playing in attack.

Martin was on target, along with Nugent and Bent, in Tuesday’s 4-0 victory at Kidderminster Harriers as Derby got their pre-season games programme underway.

With the competition set to increase over the course of the coming weeks as the pre-season campaign unfolds, Martin is relishing the challenge.

He told RamsTV: “It’s a little while until the first game but between now and then I need to try and nail down a starting spot.

“That’s going to be difficult with the competition that we’ve got.

“I was looking around in training recently and there were eight of us who have, at some point, played as a striker in their careers.

“There’s a massive amount of competition and also quality; I’ve played with most of them.

“I am going to have a fight on my hands but I think it’s healthy for the group and the squad.”

Martin is convinced that the battle for a first-team spot can be viewed as a good thing.

He says the competition between the attacking players is good humoured and healthy as they aim to catch Rowett’s eye.

He said: “I think competition can drive us all on.

“It’s good humoured between us strikers, there’s a bit of needle and dig when people are missing the target and stuff.

“If you’re one of the ones starting you’re going to know that others are breathing right down your neck to get a place in the team.”