If You Don't Want To Play - Get Oooot Of Toon!

Last updated : 13 April 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor

Martins pulled out of the gamew at 11am with a groin injury, but there was a suggestion after the game that he had overslept.

Alan Shearer: "He rang up and said he had a sore groin and unable to play.

"We got the doctors and physios to go and have a look at him, and he couldn't play.

"But there was no evidence earlier in the week he had the injury.

"After working on a particular system over the previous few days, then it was obviously disappointing to find out so late in the day he couldn't make it, so we had to reshuffle the pack a little.

"No, he didn't sleep in at all. That's not true.

"We met just after 11 o'clock, so he never broke any curfews or anything like that.

"I personally spoke to him and I'll speak to him again tomorrow morning, and we'll have another look at him.

"I wasn't happy I got the call at 11 o'clock, particularly after we had trained all Thursday and Friday, had massages Friday evening, and there was no sign of it.

"But it's happened and we're hopeful it's not going to be too serious because he has a big part to play.

"Possibly we could have won the game if he had been fit."