Chris Martin insisted that he can repeat his scoring form from last season ahead of Bristol Rovers’ game against Lincoln City at The Memorial Stadium.
The Gas are back in Sky Bet League One action after two weeks away but have played twice at home in that time. Matt Taylor’s men lost 3-2 against Exeter City in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy before a 3-1 win over Weston-super-Mare in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend.
Rovers progressed in extra time after goals from Connor Taylor and Grant Ward, with Jordan Bastin’s low drive cancelling out Jamie Lindsay’s first-half opener.
Chris Martin started the last two fixtures on his return from injury and is looking to recapture his form in front of goal quickly.
“It’s just about finding that little bit of rhythm, beginning to play again and keep training,” he said. “I feel good each and every day that has gone by. I feel fitter and stronger.
“Goals are one of those things. They are the enigma of football. If you figure it out, you’re very well off in terms of knowing what to do and when and how it’s going to come. For me, it’s about continuing to try and perform in training, getting the repetitions in and the habit of scoring goals.
“I think that will get taken into games. I am still very confident that I am able to produce that same form again this season as I was last season, and hopefully, I will be proven right very soon.”
Martin has missed the last ten games in the third tier after breaking his fibula away to Stockport County in August but is building his fitness back up. The forward captained the Gas in the first half against Exeter before playing 79 minutes against Weston.
The former Derby County striker is delighted to be back and is aiming to remain available for the rest of the campaign.
“It’s nice to be back involved from my point of view after what’s been a frustrating start to the season for me,” said Martin. “I feel good. It was nice last week to get some minutes under the belt.
“Probably more than I thought at the beginning of the week as well and everything reacted totally fine.
“So, I’m fit and ready for selection from here, hopefully for the rest of the season.”
The Gas made 16 summer signings and significantly bolstered the attack with the additions of Promise Omochere, Ruel Sotiriou, Shaq Forde and Gatlin O’Donkor.
Martin has over 450 appearances in the Championship and 90 in League One, with the striker aiming to share his knowledge with the younger forwards in the team.
“I try to work with the players,” he said. “They might give you a different answer. Promise has come to me a couple of times, and I’ve gone to him in pre-season in the early games as well to give little bits of advice here and there to impart what little wisdom I have on him and just try to help.
“I think he has a very good attitude, is a nice kid and is willing to learn, which I think is a very important thing as a young player. In terms of the price tag, I don’t think he’s too bothered. It doesn’t seem like it carries much of a weight on his shoulders to me.”
Rovers are in 17th position after collecting five wins from their opening 13 games, earning 16 points overall. Martin was honest when he reflected on the season so far and insisted that there was lots more to come from the team.
“I think it’s been a touch inconsistent,” said the striker. “There have been some good performances and results, and also some not-so-good ones.
“There’s room for improvement, that will be the phrase I would use. That’s what we’ve continued to see in the meetings with the management team and coaching staff, that there’s a lot more to come from the group.
“There’s been parts of games and certain games where we have done it and looked very good as a team defensively with the clean sheets and the goals that we’ve scored too. But, we’re yet to see the very best of this team and squad.”
