Martin hopes to be given a chance to strike up deadly double act with Griffiths
CHRIS MARTIN does not expect to rob the Scotland No 9 shirt back off Leigh Griffiths. Nor can he claim to have any designs on free-kick duties following the Celtic striker’s two Hampden stunners against England.
The Derby County forward would, however, appreciate a few more opportunities to help Griffiths with his work — just as he did when earning the second of those set-piece chances back in June.
Martin led the line instead of Griffiths late in the second half in Lithuania on Friday. That was his role, too, when jeered coming on for James Morrison on 82 minutes in March against Slovenia before netting a glory goal.
He wonders now if an increase in playing time alongside Griffiths might be available when Malta visit tomorrow.
After all, they teamed up to remarkable effect on his previous substitute appearance in the comeback scramble for goals against the Auld Enemy.
Martin took a hit from Jake Livermore to earn the second free-kick chance which Griffiths seized in stunning fashion.
‘I would like to think we could form a decent partnership,’ said Martin. ‘I’m not sure what the manager will want to do. I would like to be playing but we’ll have to wait and see what the tactics are.
‘One of these things I’m good at is drawing fouls and winning free-kicks. When you play up front on your own — as I have done — these are the things you have to try to be clever about. ‘If you feel the contact in a different area, you have to try to make the most of it. I’ve scored a few free-kicks myself at club level and when you win one, I like to take them.
‘But, after Griff had scored one, I wasn’t going to be taking the second one off him against England. Good job that I didn’t as I doubt I would have hit it quite as well.
‘If they’re close enough to goal, I’ll always fancy having a go but I’m not as keen when they’re too far out. And, if it favours a right-footer, I might make a case too.’
With Griffiths injured, Martin began World Cup qualifying as Gordon Strachan’s striker in Malta last September and kept his place for the home draw with Lithuania.
However, since the Wembley
‘I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE COULD BOTH GO ON AND FORM A PARTNERSHIP’
defeat to England, Griffiths has taken over and proved his international class for Scotland — and in Europe with Celtic.
‘He had a spell down in England that maybe wasn’t as successful as he’s been up in Scotland,’ said Martin. ‘But he’s a totally different player to the one who was at Wolves.
‘If he were back down there again, I’m sure it would be a different story. He’s grown and matured into a very good player. We saw his quality in that England game and we see it regularly on the Scotland training pitch.
‘He’s also been scoring goals for fun at Celtic, who are a very good team, so it’s no secret he’s a good player.
‘You see the development of players throughout their career and he’s probably learned from his time in England — what he did well and what he did not so well.’
Martin is without a goal since March 26 when turning Scotland’s sorry World Cup campaign around at home to Slovenia.
He has failed to find the net in six appearances for Derby this season and six at the tail end of 2016/17 for Fulham. His last club goal was on March 4 against Preston but that should be of no concern to Scotland because his strike against Malta one year ago ended a run of 14 blank outings.
‘I’m naturally a confident person anyway, so not scoring isn’t something I worry about too much,’ stated Martin.
‘You just go into each game, expect to play your best and, hopefully, the goals will come. Recently that’s not been the case for myself but I’ve not given it a second thought.
‘I know if the chances keep coming along, the goals will come. Once one goes in, you often go on a bit of a run of three or four in quick succession. I’m in the Scotland squad, so that’s a good sign.
‘The manager has got confidence in me. I’ve been in most of his squads. ‘Hopefully that means he has his trust in me.’