Reading have completed their second signing of the January transfer window by confirming the arrival of striker Chris Martin on loan from Derby County until the end of the season.
Earlier in the window, it looked as though the 29-year-old was on his way to Sunderland, but he refused to strike a deal with the struggling Black Cats, instead travelling with the Derby squad for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai (he may just wanted a holiday). The Rams remained keen to loan him out, but not to a promotion rival, making Reading the ideal option.
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) January 31, 2018
Martin has been at Pride Park since 2013 after starting his career at Norwich City, but also spent the second half of last season on loan Fulham, netting 11 times in 34 appearances. Since returning to Derby in the summer though, he has started just five Championship games, with Matej Vydra, David Nugent, Sam Winnall and now new signing Cameron Jerome all ahead of him in the pecking order at Pride Park. His only goal of the campaign so far came against Reading in November.
Having played for England at Under-19 level, Martin made his debut for the Scottish national side in 2014 and has gone on to earn 17 caps, scoring three goals.
Upon confirmation of the deal, Jaap Stam told the official club website:
“With the large number of games still to play this season, it was important to strengthen the attacking options available to us with a player who can add to what we already have within the squad.
”In Chris Martin, we have a striker who has proven his goalscoring ability at the clubs he has played for in the past and hopefully he can give us an extra impetus going forward and score goals for us.”