League One club According to Bristol Live reporter Daniel Hargraves, former Norwich City and Derby County striker Chris Martin is now being evaluated by Bristol Rovers.
The 34-year-old, who most recently spent a brief time with Championship team Queens Park Rangers, is reportedly working with The Gas in an effort to land a contract with Joey Barton’s team as he attempts to improve his fitness, however there is interest from other League One clubs.
Martin, a former Scotland international, had a standout career in the Championship, scoring 34 goals and providing 14 assists in 117 games for Norwich City during the course of a seven-year period from 2006 to 2013.
The striker go on to score an astounding 76 goals in 224 appearances across all competitions for The Rams between 2013 and 2020 after leaving The Canaries for Derby County, who he signed permanently after a prior loan spell, before eventually moving on to Bristol City.
The 34-year-old went on to score 17 goals in 95 outings for The Robins between 2020 and 2023. Martin then joined QPR on a temporary basis in February, making 16 appearances and scoring four goals before being released.
Luton Town, Crystal Palace, Swindon Town, Fulham, Reading, and Hull City are among Martin’s other former teams.
This comes after Bristol Rovers missed out on Peterborough United forward Jonson Clarke-Harris on Deadline Day because the required paperwork was not submitted in a timely manner. The deal, which would have been a club record, would have brought the 29-year-old back to The Memorial Stadium. A striker is still very much on Bristol Rovers’ shopping list.
The Gas now only have Aaron Collins, Jevani Brown, and John Marquis as their recognised forwards after fellow forward Ryan Loft left for Port Vale in the hope that they would finish the signing of Clarke-Harris. Collins has been playing on the left wing so far this season.
Lewis Grabban, a former forward for Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, is believed to have attended The Gas’ 1-1 draw with Lincoln City. The 35-year-old is still a free agent after leaving Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli in January.
Author’s Opinion
As long as he can score goals, Chris Martin is a striker with a plenty of experience who would be a great addition to any squad.
I have no doubts that he can still succeed at any team given a chance, especially in League One, even at the age of 35. His record of 114 goals in 456 Championship outings speaks for itself quite a bit.
Given that they now only have Aaron Collins, Jevani Brown, and John Marquis as possibilities in the striker position, I believe it would be a terrific pickup for Bristol Rovers if they go ahead and make Martin an offer.
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