English Premier League: Should Norwich City Keep Russell Martin at Centre-Back?

Norwich City right-back Russell Martin has been doing a sterling job playing as a centre-back for the club in recent games. It is a role that the defender will be expected to continue in when Norwich face Liverpool on Saturday. Zak Whitbread, Elliott Ward and Daniel Ayala are all currently out injured, but they are fighting their way back to fitness.

Should Russell Martin keep his place when one of these players is fit to play?

There are two very strong arguments for and against this. Firstly, Russell Martin deserves the right to continue to play due to the performances he has put in in the last few games.

However, the likes of Whitbread, Ward and Ayala would argue that as recognised centre-backs, they should play ahead of a right-back.

Overall though, there has to be a bigger reason to drop Russell Martin than simply because another player available. Martin may not be a central defender by trade, but watching his performances this season you wouldn't really know that.

On Saturday against Swansea, Martin put in a solid shift at the back and even managed to get himself on the score-sheet in Norwich's 3-1 win at Carrow Road.

Paul Lambert has been in the privileged position over the last few games of playing the same starting 11. The Norwich City manager certainly would not want to disrupt his team’s rhythm by making unnecessary changes.

The likes of Whitbread, Ward and Ayala have to work hard in training and play well for the reserves. Then it is up to them to make an impact from the substitute’s bench when given the opportunity in the first-team.

The place at centre-back that Martin occupies should be his to lose. As long as he continues to play well in that position, then really he has nothing to worry about.

He should be mindful of the fact, though, that a few costly errors cost Ritchie De Laet his place in the team. Martin therefore needs to ensure that his performances stay at the level they have been in the last few games. Lambert has already proven this season that he will make big decisions if he feels they will benefit the team.

De Laet may also feel that he deserves another chance in the first-team at some point in the future. Therefore, Martin will know that there are up to four players vying for his place in the team.

Few Norwich city supporters would have expected Grant Holt to be dropped from the first-team this season. However, it has quickly become apparent that no one's place is completely safe. This includes Martin's, so he must continue to play well to stay in the team.

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