Long road to national call-up is worthwhile for Martin

The Norwich defender, who was born in Brighton and qualifies through his Scottish father, began his career with his hometown club before spells with non-league side Lewes, Wycombe Wanderers and then Peterborough United, before he moved to Carrow Road.

Now, aged 25, and after winning promotion to the Premier League with the Canaries, he is set to take the ultimate step up to international football in the Carling Nations Cup games against Wales and Republic of Ireland in Dublin this week.

“I was 17 when it didn’t quite work out for me at Brighton,” said Martin.

“I went to play for Lewes for half a season. Men’s football was really good for me but thankfully I worked my way up pretty quickly and I signed for Wycombe the following season when I was 18.

“I only started playing right-back when I was 21 or 22 at Wycombe.

“Before that I played everywhere which was great for my development.

“I’m glad I had to work hard for it, I really appreciate the fact that it hasn’t just fallen for me. Hopefully I am now starting to reap the benefits of all that hard work.

“It’s been a great season and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“What I achieved down the road was great and to get a call-up was great. It is an honour for me and I look forward to getting going and if I continue to work hard hopefully it won’t stop there.”

n Giovanni Trapattoni is infuriated by Celtic striker Michael Stokes’s decision to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad because of tiredness.

The Italian expressed bemusement yesterday afternoon when asked why Stokes had made himself unavailable for all four forthcoming international fixtures.

The Republic play Northern Ireland tonight and Scotland on Sunday in the Carling Nations Cup in Dublin before a Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia and a friendly with Italy.

Stokes, 22, featured as a substitute in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday but then informed the FAI he would not be reporting for international duty.

Trapattoni said: “Young players have a fun job. It is not a job like the working man’s. It is not a difficult job.

“Sometimes there is more pressure now but players should understand how beautiful our job is. Injuries are injuries, but they should visit our doctor. That is the rule.”

Trappatoni was further hit after Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne withdrew from the squad due to an Achilles injury.