Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Martins thrilled by move

26 Aug 2006 - 10:06:10

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Newcastle United new boy Obafemi Martins is confident he can do justice to the club's famous number nine shirt.

The Nigerian striker completed his £10million move from Internazionale on Thursday and has been given the squad number made vacant by the retirement of the Magpies' record goalscorer, Alan Shearer.

Martins said: "I am very happy to be in Newcastle and I am happy that Glenn Roeder believed in me.

"I am happy to be wearing number nine, I met Alan Shearer yesterday and I thanked him very much for the shirt because it is a very important shirt here.

"This is my dream come true, when I was a kid I always wanted to play in the Premier League.

"A lot of people said the Spanish league is the best, but for me it was always England. It is a fast league and a fantastic league.

"People have told me that the fans here are number one and I agree with them, they are. I promise them I will do my best."

Martins, 21, is set to make his Magpies debut at Aston Villa on Sunday.