Chris Martin will make his fifth start for Port Vale against Exeter on Tuesday

Teenager Chris Martin is determined to take his chance at Port Vale following the loss of keeper Joe Anyon for the rest of the season with a broken leg.

Martin, 18, will start against Exeter on Tuesday night after replacing Anyon in Saturday's defeat at Chesterfield.

"I saw Joe go down, and it clicked straight away that I might be going on," Martin told BBC Radio Stoke.

"All you can do is do your best. I made a couple of good saves early on and that got my confidence up."

Martin, who had made only five senior appearances prior to Saturday, admitted that it is difficult to come on as a goalkeeping substitute.

"Sometimes it's better to be thrust in there," he said. "But you always benefit from more preparation so it's more of a test to be thrown on.

"I've just got to keep in the mindset that I am playing so that, if I do, I'll be ready for it. I'm just glad to get my chance."

Anyon spent Saturday night in hospital after being stretchered off when the game was still goalless after 41 minutes of the 2-1 defeat at Saltergate.

The 22-year-old, who is out of contract in June, could be out of action for as long as six months while he recovers from the injury.

Anyon reached the milestone of 100 starts for Vale on 31 January.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version