Newcastle boss expects Oba to take off next season

Roeder said: “Whatever he achieves this year will be a bonus, and next year, after he has had a full season with us, and when Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi are fit, Oba Martins can take off in a big, big way.

“Week by week Oba is building a reputation as a striker to fear. Liverpool was probably the best game he’s had for the club, when he got a completely different type of goal.

“Tonight he’s had one sniff of an opportunity to score and it’s in the back of the net and it’s won us the game.

“Michael Owen is a player like that – he can not be in the game for 90 minutes but give him two chances and he takes both. Oba Martins has the same sort of traits.”