Martins out for the rest of the year

Nigeria and Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins will undergo surgery on a shin problem and will be ruled out until the New Year.

He misses Wolfsburg’s German league clash with Werder Bremen tomorrow and will have the operation on his left shin next week.

“He is suffering a lot from the injury and the pain has become strong,” Worlfsburg coach Armin Veh said.

“There is no way around an operation now.”

Martins was originally scheduled to go under the knife at the end of the first half of the Bundesliga season on 20 December, but that has now been brought forward since the player is currently unable to even train.

Nigeria will be hoping that he recovers in time for him to be part of their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations that kicks off in Angola on 10 January.