Source: Telegraph
Newcastle's Obafemi Martins clears the air with manager Alan Shearer after no show
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle UnitedKick-off: Sun Apr 19, 1.30pm, White Hart Lane, LondonTV: Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1Radio: BBC Radio Five Live [LNB]The Nigerian has insisted that he has "no problem" with Shearer as he defended his decision to pull out of the side picked for duty in the relegation six-pointer at the Britannia Stadium just four hours before kick-off last Saturday. [LNB] Related ArticlesCarroll eyes starting roleShearer discovers a local heroStoke 1 Newcastle 1Premier League tableShearer cracks the whipManchester United can win in Porto, insists Sir Alex FergusonMartins held talks with Shearer yesterday at Newcastle's Darsley Park training ground to resolve matters after he claimed a nagging groin problem had prevented him from playing in the Potteries. [LNB]He will escape punishment for his move but his actions are bound to leave a question mark over his long-term future at St James' Park although Martins is now claiming he put the team before himself last weekend. [LNB]"I understand why the manager was frustrated because he had to change his plans," said Martins. [LNB]"But I woke up in so much pain that I knew I could not give 100 per cent, so I decided I couldn't play. [LNB]"I didn't want to let the team down and, with so many important games coming up, I needed to think about staying fit for the future."[LNB]Now it seems Shearer is willing spare Martins from the club's high-intensity training routines which he has introduced in a bid to revive the club's flagging Premier League fortunes. [LNB]It is being claimed that the 24-year-old Martins has been suffering with a groin problem for weeks but for some reason chose to keep the problem quiet from Shearer who expressed disappointment with his charge following the 1-1 draw at Stoke. [LNB]His plans for the match had to be urgently revised by Martins' withdrawal because he had been planning to play a 3-4-3 formation until the player delivered the bad news. [LNB]Martins joined Newcastle in a £10 million transfer deal from Inter Milan in 2006 to replace Shearer and was handed his iconic No9 shirt but has struggled to achieve consistency since heading to England. [LNB]Nevertheless, Martins has scored 27 goals in 82 appearances for Newcastle, including six in 12 matches earlier this season before he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. [LNB]Martins also underwent hernia surgery in Germany three months ago when he was operated on by the renowned specialist Dr Ulrike Muschaweck in Munich. [LNB]
