Martin hopes for debut cap to dull the pain of 'daylight robbery'
CHRIS MARTIN hopes that a first Scotland cap against Nigeria on Wednesday will provide a proud moment in his career — and respite from the anguish of yesterday’s agonising play-off loss.
The Suffolk-born striker suffered with fellow call-ups Craig Forsyth and Craig Bryson as Derby County lost out on a Premier League place to QPR through Bobby Zamora’s last-minute goal.
Martin revealed that even yesterday’s jubilant opponents described the victory as ‘daylight robbery’, but that was of little consolation to his devastated colleagues.
The 25-year-old admitted it was essential for the players to move on quickly and expressed a desire for all three to play a part in the Craven Cottage
friendly after their Wembley nightmare.
Martin, who is eligible for Scotland selection through his Glasgow-born dad Gerry, said: ‘This will hurt for a long time, there’s no getting away from that. But we’re fortunate we can focus on something else and maybe take our minds off it for a little bit.
‘Having the Scotland game does help because the focus will be on that.
‘I hope to get some time in the game. I’m very honoured to be called upon. To have three players in the squad shows the season we’ve had as a team. Hopefully we’ll all get on the park together and play some part.’
Martin has scored 25 goals in 51 appearances since joining Derby on a free transfer last summer.
Reaching the elite English league would have capped an unlikely route to the top for the former Norwich and England Under-19 striker, who was relegated from the Football League with Luton Town four years ago.
However, Steve McClaren’s men missed out despite bossing QPR, who were down to 10 men when Gary O’Neil was sent off in the second half for a trip on Johnny Russell.
‘We’re gutted,’ Martin said. ‘It’s so disappointing to lose it that way. A few of their lads came up at the end and said that it feels like daylight robbery almost.
‘We put on a good performance and the only thing missing was a goal. We didn’t get the fortune we needed — and QPR did. They battled very hard, defended for their lives and managed to nick it.
‘I think we need to take positives out of it with a young team that was brave to play the way that we did.
‘If we can keep the group together, and the fans behind us, there is no reason why we can’t be successful next season as well.’
Fellow forward Russell, who signed from Tannadice last summer, is the one Scot in the ranks who doesn’t have the midweek international to look forward to but Martin believes it won’t be long before he’s persuading Gordon Strachan to pick him.
Martin said: ‘It’s not for me to decide, but what I will say is he’s been magnificent for us this season. I think he would handle it very well.’