Newcastle striker Martins returns home to Nigeria after his mother's tragic death

Flying home: Obafemi Martins

A club spokesman said: 'Oba has flown back to Nigeria on compassionate grounds to be with his family at what is a very sad time for them.

'Everyone at the club extends their greatest sympathies to Oba and his relatives.'

Martins' agent Chris Nathaniel said: 'As you would expect, Oba is extremely upset at
the moment.

'This has come as a massive shock to him and his family. His mother was a guiding light to him and had a strong influence on his life.

'At this difficult time for Oba and the family, it is important they are allowed to mourn their loss in private, and I hope the media allows them to do this."

Magpies boss Kevin Keegan finds himself short of strikers as his side's pre-season campaign gathers pace with Michael Owen recovering from mumps and both Mark Viduka and Andy Carroll in the treatment room.

However, Martins looked sharp in the 4-1 win at Hartlepool last weekend and the manager will hope he returns having lost little fitness with PSV Eindhoven and Valencia due at St James' Park before the new Barclays Premier League season gets under way.

The former Inter Milan frontman has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Tyneside this summer with Arsenal among his admirers, but he has spoken of his desire to build on his blossoming relationship with the club's fans.

Martins' mother Alhaja, 62, died of shock in her car while trying to trying to escape a petrol tanker that caught fire near her apartment.

Martins's brother, Biola, told The Sun: 'Oba was closer to our mother than anyone else in the family.

'He just wanted to get on the plane and find out for himself that our mother is truly no more.

'He’s still in shock and disbelief and feels terribly down. Oba always consulted her first in any decision to do with his career.

'Our mother stood by him when everyone else condemned his decision to dump school in pursuit of an unpredictable future in football.

'He once got himself into trouble for choosing to be with her at a time she was ill instead of playing in an international friendly with Nigeria.'