Derby County boss Gary Rowett has moved to praise Chris Martin for patiently waiting in the wings so far this season.
The striker, who turns 29 on Saturday, has started just three league games so far this term for the Rams.
He was named in the starting line-up for the opening two games of the campaign but has since been used off the bench on a number of occasions.
Crucially, he has played his part in Derby’s current seven-game unbeaten run with some effective displays when called upon.
Martin was named in the starting line-up for Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Leeds United and used his hold-up play to good advantage as Derby came from behind to claim all three points, thanks to a brace from fellow attacker Sam Winnall.
Rowett says he has been impressed with the professional way Scotland international, who returned to the club in the summer following a season-long loan at Fulham, has conducted himself.
He told RamsTV: “Chris started the first few games but I felt that we needed a different threat at that time.
“Matej Vydra and David Nugent came off the bench a few times early in the season and helped change games so we went with them from the start, which went with getting a few decent results as well.
“Chris has been really patient. It can be difficult as a senior player and someone who has scored goals over a period of time and on a consistent basis at Championship level. I am sure coming back (from a season-long loan at Fulham last season) and not being involved after a few games must have been a challenge.
“He has been really diligent and been incredibly professional with the way he has gone about things. He has been frustrated but he hasn’t shown that too much in training; he has played for the squad and trained for the team.”
He added: “I told him a few weeks ago you need to almost make me pick you with what you do in training and what you do when you come on the pitch. Since then, he has done that. We’ve seen him come on and make an impact in games and he put a real shift in on Tuesday at Leeds.
“He held the ball up well. He is technically the one striker we have who can make the ball stick and his hold-up play is very good.”
Rowett says Martin is just one of a number of players to display a positive attitude in the Rams’ squad.
Sam Winnall, George Thorne and Andreas Weimann have joined Martin in coming off the bench of late to play a part.
Meanwhile, the likes of Jonathan Mitchell, Alex Pearce and Chris Baird have regularly been named on the bench.
It’s the attitude of all of those members of the squad that has pleased Rowett, who has regularly stressed the importance of having a positive mentality and togetherness across the group.
He said: “The contribution of all the players coming into the team has been really good. Whether that has been players coming into the team, those that have started the majority or those off the bench – they’ve all contributed.
“We’re seeing more and more this season players coming onto the pitch; for example Chris Baird coming in against Hull City and helping us to a 5-0 win.
“We’ve also seen players like Chris Martin, Sam Winnall and Andreas Weimann come on in recent games and making a difference. That’s what you like as a manager and seeing the players buying into what you want as a group.
“I understand it is difficult when you’re not in the team you don’t feel as close to the team, but it’s important to maintain that closeness as a group.”
