Martins Injury A Smoke Screen!

Last updated : 02 June 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

According to Nigeria national coach Shaibu Amodu, Martins has been told by doctors he will be sidelined for the next two months, which would mean the striker will be forced to sit out the bulk of United's pre-season programme.

Newcastle's players are expected to return to training on July 7.

Amodu: "Obafemi said he had a scan on his ankle and the doctors said he'd be out for eight weeks. That was why he did not play against Austria."

Martins missed the international because he was at a wedding, and it did not go down too well with his fellow countrymen.

As for the injury? He came up with excuse, but I can promise you, no-one at St James' Park knows about any "scan" or "two months rest".

Oba is well known for exaggerating a good story. Last year he said "I feared for my life when gunmen attacked my car in a petrol station in Lagos. I hid as bullets flew".

Nigerian police checked the story and Martins was ten miles away from the scene of the crime at his mother's house!