Sibierski – whose Wigan Athletic team-mates take on United at St James's Park this afternoon – played alongside the pair during his year at the club.

And the 34-year-old, on loan from the JJB Stadium club at Glenn Roeder's Norwich City, is happy to see Martins and Ameobi back among the goals.

In their five games together up front they have scored six goals, and their form has meant boss Joe Kinnear has been able to play it safe with fit-again Michael Owen, who was a substitute against Aston Villa and Fulham in Newcastle's last two games.

Ameobi ended a two-year goal drought in the home draw against Manchester City last month, while Martins put his injury problems behind him when he found the net against West Bromwich Albion, with the strike his first since the opening weekend of the season.

Sibierski, who now considers himself a United fan, is hoping the pair can help his old club climb the Premier League.

He told the Gazette: "Oba's still the same player I played alongside, and he'll always score goals. He's a very exciting player.

"When I was at Newcastle, Shola was injured for a lot of the time, but you could see he had quality. I'm not surprised he's scoring goals again.

"He just needs to get himself fully fit, and be confident. If he is, then scoring goals for him is not a problem."

Sibierski was a transfer deadline day signing by Roeder in August 2006, and went on to score eight goals, four of them in Europe, as Newcastle, without the injured Owen, battled away in the league and progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.