Lee Martin admits he is loving life back at United, and in the
central midfield berth in which he began his career.
The 22-year-old has spent his entire professional career seen as
a winger, but has thrived in a central role between midfield and a
lone striker in the Reserves since returning in January.
Goals and assists have flowed forth from the former England
youth international, who has also operated as a makeshift striker
with great success – scoring the second goal in Monday’s Lancashire
Senior Cup semi-final win over Preston.
“I came up as a central midfielder, and (former Reserves
manager) Ricky Sbragia put me out wide purely because we had so
many central midfielders,” Martin told ManUtd.com. “I ended up
doing a good job while I was filling in and being one of the better
players that season. Once you cement that spot, it’s hard to get
out of it.
“In the 2004/05 season I was playing left wing in the Barclays
Premier League and central midfield for the Pontin’s League team.
That was hard, juggling those roles, but I’ve come back and credit
has to go to Ole and Warren for noticing that I can do a job in
midfield.
“I feel I’m definitely more suited to that area, I’m more
involved and getting a few assists too. Sometimes when I’m told to
stay in one position it’s difficult because I naturally tend to
roam, find little pockets and gaps to receive the ball in. That’s
where I’m at my best.”
Martin has operated as an out-and-out winger in all six of his
loan deals – which took him to Royal Antwerp, Rangers, Sheffield
United, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle and Nottingham Forest – but
enjoyed limited opportunities.
Now back to his best in his reprised role with Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer and Warren Joyce’s side, Lee admits the gap between
United and other clubs can be a hard one to bridge.
“Sometimes you’ve got to play a position that you’re not
accustomed to for 90 minutes,” he said. “Here it’s more about
expressing yourself, but then you’ve got better players around you
here.
“No offence to the clubs I’ve been at, but you’d have to go a
long way to find a club to match the standards on show here, even
among the young lads.
“That’s perhaps why it can be difficult for lads going out on
loan, because here you’re used to the ball rarely leaving the
floor, and suddenly you can be in a Championship game where the
ball’s in the air for 45 minutes. It’s tough.”
