khay 10 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 By Craig Hope NIGERIAN hotshot Oba Martins is ready to be Newcastle United's main man as the Magpies prepare to enter their hectic December schedule without the services of injured star Michael Owen. The 23-year-old already has five goals to his name so far this term and has emerged as something of a terrace favourite since his £10m switch from Inter Milan last summer. And, with Owen facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a torn thigh muscle playing for England at the weekend, Martins could be set for an extended run in the United side - a pressure he is more than willing to take on. "I feel I have been accepted here, I love the fans and I think they love me," said Oba. "I want to stay here for a few years, I think. "The only thing I can do is keep scoring for them (the fans) because it is so important to them. "Getting goals and getting three points means a lot to the people here and I have to work hard to help do that." On United's striking options, Martins added: "It's really good playing up front with Michael, but it is up to the manager who plays. "I will play with anybody. "It's OK, I don't mind who I play with whether it is Michael, Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi, Alan Smith or Andy Carroll, we have many good strikers to play with here and I enjoy playing with them all." Martins, currently on international duty with Nigeria, is again set to link-up with the Super Eagles ahead of their African Cup of Nations campaign in January. The Toon No.9's first game is not until January 21 against Ivory Coast before group games against Mali and Benin. And he admits that he has no choice but to represent his country in Africa's premier competition. "The national team in Nigeria is totally different for me," he told the Evening Chronicle. "I have to play and I have to go. "I think it is my duty and if I didn't go it would cause a lot of problems. "There is no reason not to represent my country and I have to do it but I will miss playing at Newcastle." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 11079 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 50% kissass 50% mentalist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Martins putting Nigeria ahead of the Toon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 He obviously hasn't seen Big Red's post on here about him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nufc4ever 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Gemmill is seething! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 What are the odds that Fat Sam plays Viduka and Smith ahead of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22524 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 he's been our best striker this season by a country mile. hopefully now sam will be forced to play him for the good of the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7095 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 he's been our best striker this season by a country mile. hopefully now sam will be forced to play him for the good of the team. That's about how far the ball goes from his first touch.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47084 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 This is great news. I can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 (edited) he's been our best striker this season by a country mile. hopefully now sam will be forced to play him for the good of the team. I've been more impressed with Viduka personally. I'd play him and Martins at the minute but I'm not quite sure how you can say Martins has been the best by a country mile. He hasn't played enough or been that impressive when he has. Edited November 20, 2007 by alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 Sam Speaks: I'm Backing Oba To Take Toon Chance By Craig Hope SAM Allardyce has urged Oba Martins to seize the opportunity presented to him following the injury to Michael Owen. The Magpies record signing is likely to be sidelined until around Christmas having torn a thigh muscle whilst on international duty with England at the weekend. And, with Big Sam thus far tending to prefer a big man-little man pairing in attack, five-goal ace Martins could be set for an extended run in the team. Indeed, while Allardyce admits that he is frustrated following Owen's latest setback, he accepts that the absence of the former Real Madrid star will give others the chance to shine. And the Toon gaffer wants to see one of those likely beneficiaires - Martins - grab the goals that can reignite the Geordies' Premiership campaign during the busy December schedule. "The injury to Michael gives other players a chance to sustain their position or to get into the team and stay in the team," Sam told Newcastle World TV in an exclusive interview. "I hope players take up that challenge and produce the sort of performances we know they can do. "I've been very pleased with Oba in recent weeks. I hope that he can come in and start scoring the goals that Michael hasn't been recently to be perfectly honest. "I'm looking for him to link up with Mark Viduka or Shola Ameobi when need be. "We need to continue to score goals because that's what we're reasonably good at and, if we can tighten up as a team without possession, then we will start to win more games." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3640 Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 "I'm looking for him to link up with Mark Viduka or Shola Ameobi when need be." Unless someone left out the comma by mistake, that statement scares me more than Smith being selected to play in the midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22524 Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 he's been our best striker this season by a country mile. hopefully now sam will be forced to play him for the good of the team. I've been more impressed with Viduka personally. I'd play him and Martins at the minute but I'm not quite sure how you can say Martins has been the best by a country mile. He hasn't played enough or been that impressive when he has. i disagree alex and i'll tell you why. i'd say martins has been the pick of the bunch by a long shot. he's looked lively whenever i've seen him play and he's our top scorer despite being overlooked for owen for most games recently. viduka has been injured for most of the season so far (no surprises there) and when he has been fit, he hasn't always looked that up for it (again, no surprises) shola has hardly played and when he has he's been mostly gash (no surprises there either) the less said about smith the better finally, owen has been picked ahead of martins despite not performing at all for us this season. when they're both fit and on song i think owen is better than martins and should start ahead of him but on this season's evidence i think martins should be starting every game. owen has been very poor to be fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Probably says a lot about how shite we've been. I'd be starting Martins too though, as I said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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