Along with Michael Owen, he couldn't wait to leave St James' Park when the relegation trapdoor opened, I think many Newcastle fans were pleased to see the back of him.
However his former Newcastle ally Chris Hughton heads up the list of potential suitors, with the Norwich City boss and former Magpies coach keen to bolster the Canaries’ front line for the remainder of the campaign.
The East Anglia club are 11/4 outsiders to suffer relegation from the Premier League this term but with a tally of just two goals from their last five outings in the English top flight, they face a fight to stay in the division.
This lack of goals could prompt Hughton into action, with the Norwich boss not averse to taking a gamble in the January transfer window in a bid to shore up his squad.
Martins has made no secret of his desire to return to Europe, with the Nigerian this week linked with a loan move to Galatasaray in Turkey.
But having enjoyed solid spells in England with Newcastle and Birmingham, the 29-year-old could well be open to a return to Blighty, with a solid spell in the Premier League potentially opening the door to a return to the national team setup just in time for the World Cup.