Martins receives treatment before being stretchered off

Martins was stretchered off during his debut at Aston Villa but should be fit by the time the Premiership resumes after the international matches.

"He's got a heavy dead leg," said the Magpies manager.

"That's probably the best it could have been from where I was standing because I was fearing the worst when he went off on a stretcher."

Roeder already has striker Michael Owen out with a long-term cruciate knee injury and has a shortage of strikers at the club.

Hopefully before Thursday there will be one or two more new players in at the club Glenn Roeder

He added: "I didn't know whether it was a knee injury of significance or not so to suffer a dead leg that will take 10-12 days to heal - I can handle that."

Roeder also revealed he is set to add to his squad to create much-needed competition for places after he felt certain players under-performed against Villa.

"There were periods where we played well and periods where we did not and I thought there were a few players who disappointed me," he said.

"I wasn't satisfied with two or three performances and I've never had to say that before.

"But I've got two weeks to sort that out and, hopefully, before Thursday there will be one or two more new players in at the club as well.

"You can never say it will definitely work out but we have been working very hard in the background."