Chris Martin won the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for January; the 35-year-old has scored 11 goals for Bristol Rovers this season
Tuesday 13 February 2024 12:35, UK
Even at the age of 35, Chris Martin shows no sign of slowing down.
He has started 2024 in perhaps the best form of his career, becoming a pivotal part of the Bristol Rovers forward line.
"I believe I'm still more than able to contribute an awful lot at this level so I don't really think about my age too much," the forward tells Sky Sports after winning the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award for January - scoring five goals in four matches, including a sublime glancing header away at Barnsley and a cheeky finish against Blackpool.
"When you're in good form you fancy yourself to find the back of the net when the chances come and hopefully I can continue to do that."
Martin opened his account for Rovers in some style against Stevenage back in October as he produced a 'memorable' spectacular 35-yard lob that left the Lamex stunned, but he is unsure whether it is the best goal he has scored in his career.
"I did like that goal but I've also scored a lot of other goals that I like as well that were different types of goals," he says.
"The header I scored away at Barnsley was probably the best header I have scored and the backheel against Northampton as well."
Martin's long EFL career started back at Norwich in 2006, and looking back he admits it was a testing period for him. The striker was forced to go out on loan to several different clubs to seek opportunities, get minutes and develop as a striker.
"If you look at my career I've always tried to go out on loan if I have not been playing somewhere," Martin says.
"Part of going out on loan for me was trying to show people I was good enough to play at your club or prove I'm better than people thought I was at the time."
Martin looks back at the first loan move of his career to Luton Town in 2008/09 as a special time, despite the circumstances surrounding the club as they began the season with minus 30 points following their exit from administration.
"Working under Mick Harford at Luton who is a great guy and really good manager helped me settle really easily which doesn't always happen with loan moves," he says.
"We won the Johnstone Paint Trophy during my time there which was a really special achievement, especially to do it with the fans at that time who had been wronged to a certain extent."
Derby County is where he spent the longest spell of his career. He thrived in front of goal there, ending his first two seasons as top goalscorer and scoring 65 goals in 186 appearances, while also reaching the Championship play-off final in 2014.
"Looking back it was the time there and individual success I had which forged my reputation as player," he says.
"The way I played and the goals I scored, looking back, gives me a feeling of real fondness for my years at that club."
Martin initially only joined Bristol Rovers on a short-term deal until January. But he has made a real impact already, scoring 11 goals in 21 league matches, and his record of scoring a goal every 130 minutes is the best in League One.
No wonder he has one eye on rivalling Barnsley's Devante Cole for the golden boot come the end of the season.
"I'm a few behind at the moment but if I win it then I would be sitting there with between 20 and 25 goals by the end of the season," he says.
"My main aim is scoring every single game and I believe that this team is capable of creating those opportunities for me."
In January, he made the decision to extend his contract at the club until at least the end of season, a straightforward conclusion considering his form and the connection he has built with his team-mates in such a short time.
"I've really enjoyed my football and my time with the boys here and I think that relationship has grown strong," says Martin.
"I feel really settled here and feel like a big part of the dressing room so that's a nice feeling when you're coming into work every day.
"From my point of view, I've been enjoying my football and have been in good form so there was no reason not to [extend] from my side."
