Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Martins magic delights Roeder

29 Sep 2006 - 08:51:56

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Glenn Roeder hailed two-goal hero Obafemi Martins as Newcastle United progressed to the group stage of the UEFA Cup with a 3-1 aggregate win against Levadia Tallinn.

The Nigeria international striker had been criticised for his displays in the Premiership since his £10million switch from Internazionale but responded with two stylish goals in Thursday's 2-1 second leg success at St James' Park.

Roeder was pleased for his big-money signing, saying: "To be judging him so soon, after a couple of months, is ridiculous.

"Shevchenko and Bellamy are not scoring that many goals at new clubs, but it was only a matter of time until Oba did.

"We are delighted with him and very happy to have secured his services and - after those two goals, there are many more on the way.

"I'm really pleased that he's got off the mark at home. He scores goals like that every day in training.

"The first header was tremendous - he gets amazing height for someone so small - and the second finish was special. I think everyone enjoyed that one.

"He's a different No 9 to other No 9s we've had in the past, but as long as he scores goals, that's the important thing."