Martin wants to stay and fight for his place at Cobblers

Defender Joe Martin is determined to fight for his place at the Cobblers after making just his third league start of 2020 against Shrewsbury Town last weekend.

Having dropped down the pecking order over the second half of last season, injuries seemed Martin's most likely route back into the team and so it proved when he was given an opportunity at New Meadow.

The 31-year-old impressed out of position at centre-back and although staying the team is not guaranteed when injured players return, he feels he still has plenty to offer manager Keith Curle.

“There’s a lot of injuries at the minute but I’d love to play more,” said Martin. “I’m at an age now where I don’t want to be sitting on the bench not playing so if I can keep myself in the team, then fine.

“If not, then we’ll have to keep going, but sometimes, when you haven’t played a lot, you can try too hard and that’s why it’s important to keep fit and keep working hard in training.

“When you’re not playing as much, you have to put 100 per cent into training to make sure you’re ready to take an opportunity when it comes.

“Most of my games at full-back but I’m still quite comfortable left of the three or at centre-half in a two and I thought it went well.”

Curle will be keeping his fingers crossed that some of Town’s injured players will be fit enough this weekend but, if not, Martin is ready to fill the void.

And if Shrewsbury was a tough test last weekend, the visit of Hull City is unlikely to be any easier.

“We know, after being promoted, that we won’t win every game this season,” Martin admitted. “We’ve got a certain style of play and it’s very black and white.

“We’re all on the same page so it’s easier to get going quicker. Sometimes, when you change to a different style, it can take a while to bed-in.

“Being on the same page early on will hopefully get us a few more wins in the next few weeks but there are some huge clubs in this league, it’s a really, really strong division this year. You look at Hull’s squad and you know it’ll be really difficult.

“But I think we showed last season that in the big games, we perform quite well, so hopefully it can be the same again.

“Northampton isn’t a small club. We’re happy to be among the bigger teams and we’ll rise to the occasion. Sometimes it’s nice to be the underdog but it’s also nice playing amongst better quality opposition.”