Surely the last thing Al needs at Newcastle need right now

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders whether the striker 'crisis' at Newcastle will dictate where they are playing their football next season.

Alan Shearer has a battle on his hands off the pitch as well as on it after Obafemi Martins' withdrawal from the Newcastle squad on Saturday disrupted his plans.

The Nigerian striker missed the 1-1 draw with Stoke afterciting a groin injury, but the Newcastle manager was less than impressed by his behaviour.

"I wasn't too happy I got the call at 11 o'clock, particularly after we trained all Thursday and Friday and had massages on Friday evening and there was no sign of it," said Shearer, as reported in The Sun.

Shearer had reportedly been working on a three pronged attack but Martins' withdrawal put an end to that plan, although the manager confirmed that he was dropped because of the niggle – however serious – rather than anything else.

"I'm not happy with the situation, to find out so late in the day.

"After working the last two or three days on a particular system it was disappointing and we had to reshuffle the pack.

"He didn't sleep in that's not true. I spoke to him and asked him and I'll speak to him again."

The truth is, of course, that this is the last thing Shearer needs.

Martins' absence did mean that local boy Andy Carroll was able to earn a point with a fantastic header, but the club remain in the bottom three with the end of the season getting closer and closer.

More and more clubs are finally escaping the threat of relegation, which means the pressure is increasing on the clubs still involved.

Newcastle, Boro, Sunderland are still playing for their Premier League survival. It is a sad time for football in the North East.

But St James' Park is the place with the momentum. At leas tit was until a couple of flat results brought everyone back down to Earth.

Starting with three out and out strikers is something that is rarely done by clubs chasing relegation but desperate times call fordesperate measures, so Shearer's frustration is understandable.

Of course, a good manager should be able to play more than one system but with Shearer's inexperience it is not even known what formation or style he favours. Nobody even knows what players he wants to pick.

Is Martins vital if the club are to retain their top flight status? With Michael Owen's future dependent on many external factors and Shola Ameobi hardly the most prolific goal scorer in the league, can the club cope without strikers at this stage? Mark Viduka, anyone?

Is the stage set for Carroll to save the club from relegation? Could it be that a local lad that brings back memories of a young Shearer takes divine inspiration from the Messiah?