Magpie Martins relishing filling Shearer’s shirt

NEWCASTLE new boy Obafemi Martins revealed yesterday he met Alan Shearer before taking on the famous number nine shirt.

The 21-year-old was introduced to Shearer before Thursday night’s UEFA Cup clash with Ventspils and admitted he is excited at the challenge of becoming a hit with the United fans.

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 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.

“I promise them I will do my best.

“My manager called me at Inter and asked where did I want to go, and I told him Newcastle United.”

Meanwhile Roeder was also delighted with his £10 million (€14.7 million) purchase and insisted the Nigeria international was always his number one choice.

The Newcastle manager welcomed Martins as his second signing of the summer alongside Damien Duff and is looking forward to the former Inter Milan star’s presence at St James’ Park.

He said: “I have been saying in the last couple of days that Oba has always been my number one target even though there have been a few smokescreens put up to make sure we put off the other clubs who were interested in him.

“I am sure he will score many goals for us over the next four or five years.

“Out of all the speculation and the dozen or so strikers who were linked with us — Oba was always the player I wanted.”

Roeder though was quick to fend off questions about Martins’ correct age after talk the player was 28 following an administration error by the Nigerian FA last year.

He added: “We at Newcastle have never questioned his age.

“It is disrespectful to question his age, around the world we have a good reputation. He is 21, we know he is 21, we always have done, we have a talented young player.”