Wild card Martins key man for Shearer

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Much of the spotlight since the former Magpies skipper's return to the club has been on his one-time team-mate for club and country, Michael Owen. However, the 38-year-old knows Nigeria international Martins could play an equally significant role.

Shearer said: "He is a very different player to what Michael brings. But what the opposition fear with Oba is they are not sure what he is going to do because at times, he probably doesn't know himself."

He added: "You can take that as a negative or a positive, but he is a threat.

"He is good in the air, he can score great goals and we are going to need that every bit as much from him as we are Michael, as we are Shola (Ameobi), as we are Andy Carroll.

"We are going to need all those players firing on all cylinders."

Shearer is confident that in Owen, Martins, Mark Viduka, once he returns to full fitness, Ameobi, Carroll and Nile Ranger he has the men to score the goals to keep the Magpies up.

However, he knows that will count for little if the supply lines are not opened up once again.

He said: "We are going to have to start creating some chances because otherwise, there is no point in having Michael, no point in having Oba or the two big lads in Shola and Andy - and hopefully, Mark Viduka - and the young lad, Nile Ranger.

"We have got to start giving them a bit of ammo."