STRIKER Chris Martin has today put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half year contract with the Club.

Martin, a product of the Club's Academy, has 16 goals to his name already this season and has formed a fantastic trio with Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt, which has yielded 52 goals in all competitions.

Manager Paul Lambert said: "Chris has been brilliant for us so far this season, he has been playing on top of his game and he deserves this new contract.

"It's great for the Club to have players who have come through the Academy. He's still only 21 and is a terrific finisher with both feet, as he showed against Colchester last weekend."

The Beccles-born striker first exploded onto the first team scene in February 2007 scoring five goals in seven games. Along with defender Michael Spillane, he spent the 2008-09 season on loan at Luton Town, where he scored 13 goals. Despite relegation, after a 30-point deduction, Martin's loan spell at Kennilworth Road ended with a winners medal, after the Hatters lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Scunthorpe United, where the 21-year-old scored a 32nd minute equaliser at Wembley.

FIRST HAT-TRICK: Chris Martin celebrates scoring four
goals against Paulton Rovers in the FA Cup

This season has seen Martin become an integral part of a promotion-chasing squad and he has scored 16 goals in 28 games (23 starts and five sub appearances) in all competitions, including his first senior hat-trick against Paulton Rovers in the FA Cup first round tie at Winterfield Road.

On the signing of his new contract, Martin said: "I'm delighted to sign a new deal. This season has been very good for me and everybody connected with the Club so far and hopefully we can carry that on."

Asked if he'd expected to play such a key role this season, Martin said: "Probably not being totally honest but it has gone very well, at the start of the season I would have been happy to play as many games as I have done to date and hopefully I'll be able to play a lot more following today. I didn't expect to have such a heavy involvement but it has turned out very well for me this season."

With 16 goals to his name, the 21-year-old has further targets in sight: "As a striker you look to try and get 20 and then from there we'll see how it goes, hopefully a few more after that as well and we can carry on playing how we are and keep pushing for a promotion spot."

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