Martins reassured over United role

Apr 15 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

OBAFEMI Martins has been assured he remains an integral part of Alan Shearer's plans at Newcastle United despite the groin injury which infuriated his new manager last weekend.

Martins was sent for a scan on his groin yesterday as United’s medical staff attempt to discover the full extent of the damage, but Shearer is happy with the Nigerian international’s explanation for failing to report the problem until Saturday morning, just six hours before kick-off at Stoke.

And United’s assistant manager Iain Dowie is adamant there is no lingering bad feeling between the two as he once again stressed Martins’ importance to the side as they look to get out of relegation trouble.

“There hasn’t been a falling out with Obafemi Martins and the matter has been dealt with,” said Dowie, who is thrilled to have been given the chance to work with Shearer. “It’s gone and it’s in the past and he has said he is fully behind the cause here. We never said there wasn’t an injury. All Alan expressed was his disappointment that he had not been told about the injury until 11.15 on Saturday morning, which was too late.

“It was disappointing, that’s all, because we had been working on a system all week and then had to scrap it at the last minute because of the injury to Oba.

“There is no bad feeling. He has gone away for a scan and hopefully the prognosis will be a good one and he will be back involved quickly, because he is an important player for us, no doubt.

“The communication should have been better, but to be fair to Oba he was desperate to be involved and maybe that was why he kept quiet about the injury.”