Boro midfielder Jon Martin admitted he thought he had played his last game for the club before being recalled from his loan spell at Ebbsfleet United. The 27-year-old was shipped out to the Blue Square Premier strugglers after being transfer-listed by Bo

Boro midfielder Jon Martin admitted he thought he had played his last game for the club before being recalled from his loan spell at Ebbsfleet United.

The 27-year-old was shipped out to the Blue Square Premier strugglers after being transfer-listed by Boro earlier this season but a combination of injuries and suspensions have given him a chance to resurrect his Stevenage career.

Martin admitted to being surprised when he received a call on Saturday night saying that the club needed him to play a part in their promotion run-in.

"I got the call from John Dreyer and the gaffer texted me saying that he wanted me to come back," Martin told The Comet. "It was a bit of a shock but it was really good for me.

"I really didn't want to think that I had played my last game for the club but you may have thought so with the way it was going.

"But I love it here and I love Stevenage Boro Football Club."

By a quirk of the fixture list, Martin is likely to face his former Ebbsfleet team-mates this weekend and he admitted it will feel a little strange having played his part in pulling Liam Daish's side away from the relegation zone.

"I really enjoyed it there. It was a successful time for me as they were in a bit of a relegation battle and we managed to climb out of it.

"It was great to get a few games but it's good to be back at Stevenage now.

"It's going to be a bit weird playing against some of the boys but that's just what happens in football."

Martin came back into a Boro side in vastly different form to the one he last played in and he settled straight back in alongside Gary Mills at the heart of the Boro midfield against Cambridge.

Martin believes the win against their play-off rivals sent out a message to the rest of the league that Boro are still fighting for a place in the top five.

"It was a big game for us. They are a good side and I think we showed what we can do by beating a side right up there.

"It just shows what we are capable of and hopefully we can carry on that form until the end of the season."

Manager Graham Westley admitted he had no hesitation in recalling Martin with the likes of Andy Drury, David Bridges, Michael Bostwick and Darren Murphy all unavailable.

"It was the first thing that I did on Saturday night to make sure that John got the call," said Westley.

"He has been in good form. I've watched him over there at Ebbsfleet and he was always one that we had in our back pocket. It's a good quality player to bring in during our moment of need.