Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has admitted he is going to find it tough going keeping Obafemi Martins happy at St James' Park.

The Nigeria international faces strong competition for a starting place in the first team from the likes of Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi and the in-form Michael Owen and Allardyce predicts he will not take kindly to a prolonged period on the bench.

The striker pledged to fight for his place in the side over the summer when he was linked with a move to Arsenal but that attitude may change if he always finds himself on the bench.

"There is a difficult situation for me there because Oba is not going to be totally satisfied if he is on the bench too long," Allardyce said.

"I have to manage that situation like I have with all the other squad players who expect to be playing rather than not."