SCOTLAND’S misfiring striker Chris Martin has been backed to make the Fulham fans forget Moussa Dembele.
The heavily-criticised international frontman scored his first goal of the season in the Craven Cottage side’s 4-2 win at Barnsley at the weekend.
Martin was bought from Derby County in the summer after Dembele’s departure for Celtic and Ross McCormack’s move to Aston Villa.
The burly forward had gone 21 games without a goal before his header at Oakwell, but former Wolves manager Kenny Jackett, who quit Molineux in the summer, reckons it will be the first of many.
He said: “Fulham play as good football as anyone in the Championship and they can really hurt opponents with some quality play.
“Last season, they just gave away too many goals, but they had some of the best forwards in the division.
“Now two have gone, Dembele and McCormack, and I think bringing in Chris Martin is a good move.
“He’s very good and the type of striker who is experienced at this level.
“Chris can now go on the sort of run that will help his team get up the division.”
Former Rangers (IL) winger Sone Aluko was set up by ex-Celt Stefan Johansen to thump in the London club’s second goal as they twice came from behind to pick up their fourth win of the campaign.
Martin, who claimed a landmark 100th league goal of his career against Barnsley, will be hoping to hit the target against Alex Neil’s Championship leaders Norwich City tomorrow night.
The big Fulham striker was preferred to Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths for last weekend’s international at Hampden against Lithuania.
Griffiths scored 40 goals last season and is regarded by just about everyone as Scotland’s best bet to grab a goal or two in this World Cup campaign which has been disappointing to sat the least.
However Gordon Strachan picks the team and seems to have a preference for a taller striker. The trouble is his big guy’s don;t score goals. Griffiths does!
Thanks is due the SFA for granting CQN a photo pass for the international match against Lithuania.
