Before arriving at Derby County permanently, Chris Martin had struggled for form and consistency.

After starting his professional career at Norwich City where he made 102 appearances and scored 25 goals, Martin was sent out on loan several times.

In 2008, he joined Luton Town on loan where he scored 11 times in 40 games, and in further spells with Crystal Palace and Swindon he managed 8 goals in 28 games.

In 2013, Martin joined Derby County on loan, for what would prove to be his last loan spell away.

He was signed permanently from the Canaries on a free transfer in the build up to the 2013/14 season and made an immediate impact, scoring 25 times in all competitions to become the top scorer at the club.

He was rewarded in 2014 with his first cap for Scotland, who he picked over his birth country England, and has since earned 8 caps and has scored a goal too.

Here are THREE reasons why Chris Martin will score 15 or more goals next season......

 

He's done it before

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 He's done it before consistently actually.

Last season was the only season where Martin scored less than 15 goals in a Derby shirt, and even then the Scot bagged 14 league goals, just 1 shy of that figure.

As mentioned, he smashed in 25 goals in his first season at Derby in all competitions, with 20 coming in the league, and the following campaign he bagged 18 league goals.

The former Norwich man has a proven track record at this level.

Physicality

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 Whilst Martin has been criticised for a lack of pace and not moving into the right positions, you cannot deny that he is a physical presence, and a handful for Championship defenders to deal with.

His brute strength is a perfect fit for the rough and tumble of the Championship, and with clubs splashing the cash on more lightweight, modern defenders from abroad, Martin's physicality will be more of an asset than ever next season.

Aerial Threat

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Compared to Arsenal's Olivier Giroud in terms of his aerial prowess, Martin offers a completely different approach than a Darren Bent or an Andreas Weimann in that he offer a real threat in the air.

With the quality of Johnny Russell and Tom Ince out wide, with the option of Nick Blackman too, Derby are more than capable of whipping in a killer cross for Martin to get his head onto, and if they can do this consistently, the Scot will keep finding the net.