The Newcastle United striker made no attempt to hide his frustration when he made way for Mark Viduka in Saturday's goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium.

Martins went straight to the visiting dressing room without shaking manager Joe Kinnear's hand, clearly feeling he should not have been the one to be sacrificed for fit-again Viduka, making his comeback against his old club from a six-month injury lay-off.

However, Martins – who has scored five goals so far this season – has since apologised to Kinnear for his act of petulance.

He said: "I was absolutely gutted at being hauled off, and it was all down to sheer disappointment.

"Like any other player, I'm always disappointed when I'm substituted, but I'm sorry if what I did was a problem, and perhaps it was wrong for me to go to the dressing rooms and not the bench."

Martins – like strike partner Michael Owen – was starved of service at the Riverside Stadium, but still struck the crossbar in the first half.

And he is hoping Kinnear, like Kevin Keegan last season, can accommodate him, Viduka and Owen in his starting XI.

Martins added: "I was feeling good, and felt as though I could score. I still don't know, or understand why, I was called off.

"I don't suppose it was a surprise that Mark Viduka was brought on, especially as there were no goals.

"But I was hoping I would get the chance to play alongside him and Michael Owen, and not be the one to make way for him.

"When the two of us and Michael were used together last season we had a fair amount of success."