Good news for Joe Kinnear and Newcastle fans ... Obafemi Martins has been left out of the Nigeria squad for a friendly against Colombia next month.

Coach Shuaibu Amodu understands Martins has been struggling with injury, and is willing to give the Toon striker time to recover.

He also missed the Super Eagles' final 2010 World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone on October 11.

The west Africans face the Columbians in Bogota on November 19 as preparation for the final round of World Cup qualifiers which begin in March.