Source: Telegraph
Newcastle play down row over Obafemi Martins injury
Newcastle secured a point at the Britannia Stadium when Andy Carroll rose to head home an equaliser after Abdoulaye Faye had given Stoke a deserved first-half lead.
Reports suggested manager Alan Shearer was unimpressed by Martins' declaration on the morning of the game. However, sources have played down the affair.
"He rang up and said he had a sore groin and was unable to play," said Shearer. "We got the doctors and physios to go and have a look at him, and he couldn't play. But there was no evidence earlier in the week he had the injury.
"After working on a particular system over the previous few days, then it was obviously disappointing to find out so late in the day he couldn't make it, so we had to reshuffle the pack a little."
"But it's happened and we're hopeful it's not going to be too serious because he has a big part to play."
