Obafemi Martins, the Newcastle United forward, has reaffirmed his commitment to the club despite suggestions that his days at on Tyneside could be numbered. The 23-year-old Nigeria international, who finished his first season at the club as leading scorer with 17 goals, has been repeatedly linked with a move away from St James' Park after news of a get-out clause in his contract emerged.

"I was shocked to hear I was leaving again," Martins said. "My adviser called me last Sunday when he saw the news - I never said such things. What people must understand is I love the fans at Newcastle, I want to continue here.

"Sometimes some fans say I am a legend to me, and I always say, 'No, no, Alan Shearer is a legend'. "I am not a legend yet. There is hard work to do before people can rightfully say that. There are no problems for me at Newcastle. My family are here with me and I want to stay."

Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle manager, has spoken of his excitement at working with Martins in recent weeks following his return to fitness from an ankle problem he suffered at the African Nations Cup, and the pair have brushed aside the striker's angry reaction to being substituted at Birmingham City last week.

Martins has been used in a three-pronged attack along with Michael Owen and Mark Viduka in the last two games, although it remains to be seen whether Keegan dare adopt such an attacking formation for Sunday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Martins scored arguably the best goal of his career in England in last season's 3-2 win at White Hart Lane with a long-range thunderbolt. However, his side head for north London this weekend still needing points to secure their Barclays Premier League status and knowing in-form Tottenham will provide a much sterner test than Fulham did on Saturday, as Keegan finally tasted victory at the 10th attempt.

The game will provide Chris Hughton, Newcastle's newly appointed coach, with a swift return to the club he served with such distinction as both a player and on the coaching staff, although he will have no mixed emotions should his new employers get the better of his old ones.

"I have been asked if it will be eerie for me going to the Lane on Sunday, and while I don't think that will be the case, it will be certainly strange, although I have to add that I am not the most emotional of people," he said.

"Obviously I will be meeting a lot of people I know - including the Spurs players - for the first time since I left. But it will only be a good day for me if Newcastle United can get some kind of result."