Martins Denies Shearer Rift

Obafemi Martins has admitted he could understand Alan Shearer's frustration over his late withdrawal for the match against Stoke.The Newcastle striker played no part in the 1-1 draw on Saturday after waking up on the morning of the game with groin trouble.Shearer was unhappy that he had to change his plans just hours before kick-off and asked Martins to explain what happened.There have been suggestions that the incident created a rift between player and manager but Martins will not face punishment.The Nigerian realises why Shearer was upset but insists he could do little to help the situation and made the right decision to pull out.Martins, who was last week described as a key player by Shearer, is looking forward to playing a major role in Newcastle's battle against relegation."I understand why the manager was frustrated because he had to change his plans," he said in The Guardian."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."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."

Source: Eurosport