Pardew says Martin is in contention for regular first-team football

Southampton defender Aaron Martin has set his sights on regular first-team football after starting Tuesday's 1-0 Carling Cup defeat by Bolton.

The 20-year-old joined Saints from non-league neighbours Eastleigh last November, signing an 18-month contract.

He told BBC Solent: "I've gone from playing Conference South a year-and-a-half ago to playing a Premiership team.

"I've been in the squad most of the time so I just need to keep training as hard as I can and take my chances."

Martin, a former England Under-18 schoolboy international, started the final two League One matches for Saints last season following a successful loan spell at Salisbury.

And, after his latest performance, manager Alan Pardew has hinted that the central defender is in contention to feature in Saturday's trip to Bristol Rovers.

"He's had a settling-in period and gone out on loan and done very well, and he's come back from pre-season and looked terrific and played himself right into contention for Saturday," he said.

Isle of Wight-born Martin is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Nick Holmes, Graham Baker and Pat Earles by becoming the latest player from the Hampshire area to carve out a career at Southampton.

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