Striker Martins will be fit for Magpies pre-season but Viduka continues to battle with Achilles problem

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins will be fit for the start of the new season.  

Reports in recent weeks have suggested the 23-year-old Nigeria international could miss the beginning of the new campaign with an ankle injury.  

But both the player and the club are mystified by the suggestion, and he is expected to join up with the rest of his team-mates on July 7 for the start of pre-season training.

Recovery: Obafemi Martins, pictured scoring against Spurs, is expected to return for pre-season training

Martins sat out the Magpies' closing day defeat at Everton with a knee problem and did not figure in his country's recent friendly against Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria.  

However, that injury has since cleared up and Newcastle fully expect the £10million forward to return to Tyneside fit and well. But they may have to wait a little longer for Australian Mark Viduka.  

The 32-year-old who formed the three-pronged frontline with Martins and Michael Owen which did so much to ease the club away from the relegation zone at the end of last season, missed the last game with an Achilles injury.  

He had been battling the problem for some time and had an injection which it was hoped would cure it.  

However, manager Kevin Keegan admitted if it did not, surgery could be required, and that would sideline the player for between three and six months.  

Viduka is due to see his specialist once again early next month, and although the club are hopeful he could be ready for the start of the campaign, he could miss most of pre-season.  

Keegan will hope progress has been made on the transfer front by the time his players reconvene with much of the current speculation surrounding departures rather than arrivals.  

Martins, of course, has repeatedly been linked with Arsenal, who are being touted as potential purchasers for goalkeeper Shay Given. 

However, it is midfielder James Milner who is currently occupying the headlines with Liverpool and Aston Villa seemingly ready to test Newcastle's resolve to hang on to him. 

In addition, Shola Ameobi remains in Ipswich's sights, while young striker Andy Carroll is reportedly on relegated Derby's wish-list. 

Meanwhile, former Magpie Nolberto Solano is looking for another English club after being released by West Ham.

The 33-year-old Peruvian left St James' Park for the second time last summer for family reasons, and a third spell on Tyneside is not on the cards.  

He said: "I am looking for another club. I hope to stay in England for another two years and after that, I will return to Peru. 

"Everybody knows what I feel about Newcastle and those fans, but it would be difficult me to ever return there. The reason I was forced to leave Newcastle was because of family reasons, and that situation has not changed.  

"But one day, I might be back at Newcastle as manager." 

Solano was once tipped as a future Peru boss by then Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder, although he is not ready to step on to the management merry-go-round just yet.  

However, he admits wherever he is or whatever he is doing, Tyneside will always be close to his heart. 

Solano said: "I don't really know Kevin Keegan, but when I saw him in action at Upton Park at the end of the season, I was very impressed with him.

"If there is one man who can turn things around at St James' Park, then that man is Kevin Keegan. No matter where I am in the world, I will be hoping and praying that he does."