Defender Carl Martin is hoping to be involved with the first-tem squad at Hereford United tomorrow afternoon after being promoted to the travelling squad for the trip to Dagenham at the weekend. The former Wealdstone youngster has endured a frustrating time with a couple of niggling injuries since joining us back in October - but now free of those set-backs, he is set to challenge for a first-team place sooner rather than later.

Martin so nearly made his debut late on against Dagenham but the referee blew his whistle to prevent him entering the field of play for the first time as a professional. Now Martin is hoping another opportunity is not too far away.

Carl told the club's official web-site: "I finally made it into the first team squad on Saturday and it was great to be told by Dario that I would be travelling with them. It was my first experience of that and I was just pleased to be involved.

"I set myself the target of January for getting into the squad and being a part of it and I have managed that. Now it is my aim to get onto the pitch and make my debut. It has been a relief to be involved because I have had one or two injuries since I came here. I am totally over them now and I just want to push on and challenge for a place in the team.

"It has been very intense coming here from a semi-pro level, but it something I have adjusted too and really enjoyed. I have learnt a lot about the game and my game from the coaches here and it makes a difference to be training with real quality players every day.

"You cannot beat it, I get up, come into training, kick a ball around, go home and rest and then get back up and do it over again. It is a dream for me and I have got to keep working hard and hopefully that chance will come."