Dzeko (bottom left), Grafite (top left) and Martins (centre) will take on Rooney
By Jonathan Stevenson
Obafemi Martins knows a thing or two about stopping Manchester United but he will not be fooled into thinking the task is getting any easier.
The former Newcastle striker played in the Magpies' 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on the opening day of last season - only one of three home league games in which the eventual champions failed to take all three points.
Now at Wolfsburg, the 24-year-old Nigerian comes face to face with United once again when the German side travel to Manchester for their first away game in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Despite United's failure to hold on to winger Cristiano Ronaldo and striker Carlos Tevez in the summer, Martins believes playing Sir Alex Ferguson's team may be more difficult this season.
There is a lot of talent here, no big-name players, but people who can play football
Wolfsburg's Obafemi Martins
"I watched them beat Manchester City 4-3, that was a very tough game for them, but they won and that is the important thing," Martins told BBC Sport.
"Even without Ronaldo and Tevez, I would say you face the same problems playing against United. In fact, I would even say they are playing much better than before.
"When Ronaldo was on the pitch, everyone looked to him, expecting him to change the game when his team most needed it.
"But now United have a lot of players who can change a game, like Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov. Even the defenders can score goals, so we must watch out for them all over the pitch."
Having played with the likes of Owen, Mark Viduka, Adriano and Hernan Crespo, Martins is in a strong position to discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of his fellow strikers.
And he believes the in-form Rooney poses the biggest danger to Wolfsburg's hopes of springing a surprise on Wednesday.
"He is my favourite, no question," stated Martins. "He is playing so well at the moment, he can destroy defenders in an instant.
VfL WOLFSBURG FACTFILE
Founded: 12 Sept, 1945
Ground: Volkswagen Arena, 30,000-capacity
Honours: Bundesliga (2008/09); German Cup runners-up (1994/95)
Famous ex-players: Stefan Effenberg, Martin Petrov, Claudio Reyna, Andres D'Alessandro
"He is scoring goals, maybe more goals than before, and he is helping the team in lots of other ways as well. He is a player we need to be very, very careful of.
"I've told my team-mates about Rooney and all the United players but they know United have a team full of top-class footballers. Everyone knows that."
Wolfsburg have a couple, too. In fact, Germany is still reeling from the havoc caused by Die Wölfe hitmen Grafite and Ezin Dzeko as the club romped to a first league title last term.
The Brazilian and his Bosnia and Herzegovinian partner went on a scoring spree, netting 28 and 26 goals respectively as they became the most successful partnership in Bundesliga history, overtaking the record of Gerd Muller and Uli Hoeness from 1972-73.
Their Champions League debut did not disappoint either, as Grafite slammed in a hat-trick against CSKA Moscow to send Armin Veh's team to the top of a fledgling Group B.
Martins has slotted straight into coach Veh's favoured 4-3-3 formation and he can hardly believe his luck at playing with two such accomplished strikers.
"The quality of the squad has surprised me a lot since I arrived," revealed Martins, who arrived on a four-year contract for about £9m in August.
Wolfsburg's players celebrate winning the club's first Bundesliga title in May
"There is a lot of talent here, no big-name players, but people who can play football - not least Grafite and Dzeko, who are both very, very good," added Martins.
"Grafite can score from absolutely anywhere and Dzeko is very strong, he can keep the ball and bring the midfielders into play. It is easy to play with these guys because they are big and strong and can hold it up for me.
"We are an attacking team, that's the way we play, so it is going to be tough for Manchester United as well. It will be a fun game, very interesting.
"Wolfsburg are the champions of Germany and they play as a team, there is a lot of togetherness, everyone is very friendly with each other."
When I ask how Martins has settled down to life in Germany, he chuckles apologetically.
Far removed from the dizzying glamour of Milan - where he started his career with Inter - and the lively surrounds of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Martins is getting used to a slower, sleepier way of life on the banks of the River Aller.
"It's a very small town," he eventually offered as way of an introduction. "Um, it's the home of Volkswagen but there is not much really to say."
He laughs and the Wolfsburg press officer sitting next to him laughs too; clearly Martins is having fun adapting to his new home.
Little is known about the town he lives in or the team he plays for - and the muscular frontman with rocket fuel in both boots believes that might just play into Wolfsburg's hands.
"It is much better for us that not many teams around Europe know about us," he said. "Manchester United will not have seen too many of our games so it might be difficult for them in that regard.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?