Ebbsfleet United's former Manchester United forward Lee Martin says boo-boys won't break his confidence

Lee Martin says football’s boo-boys won’t dent his self-belief after enjoying his finest hour in an Ebbsfleet shirt.

Martin scored the extra-time winner against Chippenham to set up a winner-takes-all trip to Dorking Wanderers this Saturday.

But it’s not always been plain sailing for the former Manchester United and Gillingham man, who has come in for stick from some Fleet fans during the course of the season.

There’s been reasons, of course. There’s been a lack of form by his own admission but Martin’s back story also involves rushing back from an ankle injury months ahead of schedule, a major factor behind his perceived performance levels.

It was the same ankle he fractured and dislocated at the age of 29 when playing for Gillingham. But rather than take his time to come back into the fold, Martin pushed himself to the front of manager Dennis Kutrieb's options.

“The one thing for me is that I never doubt what I am capable of or where I’ve come from,” said Martin, who was injured in the FA Cup defeat at Leyton Orient.

“At 35, obviously things slow down but the quality still remains and I back myself any time.

“I made a concerted effort to come back when I did, against the run of time really.

“I wanted to put myself there on the forefront because I wanted to help my team-mates and I hate being injured.

“Obviously, that’s a mini regret as the fans didn’t see the best of me but as Dom Poleon always says, the cream always rises.

“I’ll always back myself that’s just an individual belief and many experiences tell me that.

“Listen, it was a tricky time and criticism is never nice, no-one responds well to criticism.”

It’s not something that can be easily ignored, especially in non-league football where fans are that much closer