Chris Martin staying at Fulham, Slavisa Jokanovic tells Derby
Tuesday 3 January 2017 15:08, UK
Slavisa Jokanovic says he has told Derby boss Steve McClaren that he cannot have Chris Martin back from his loan at Fulham.
Martin refused to play in the recently abandoned game at Reading because he wants to return to the Rams and he also missed the home defeat to Brighton on Monday.
Sky Sports News HQ understands the player pulled up during training ahead of the Ipswich Town match on Boxing Day, which he subsequently played in and scored, citing 'a niggle' - and he has been telling Fulham that he is still injured.
But it is understood that the club's medical staff have so far been unable to find anything wrong with him.
There is no recall option in his season-long loan deal and both Fulham and their manager are reluctant to simply hand back a quality player to a top-six rival in the Championship.
After the Brighton loss, Jokanovic said: "We signed a contract and an option to recall doesn't exist from Derby's side.
"This is nice because they tried to offer him more money and more years, but this solution doesn't exist.
"He is going to stay until the end of the season - this is my position, and this is Fulham's position, too.
"We played against Derby a few weeks ago and Steve McClaren asked me about Chris Martin, and explained to me that he likes this player.
"I explained to him that he's under contract and I want him to stay, and I recommended that he looked in the market for another option. Maybe he didn't understand my English very well."
