The Newcastle United striker made no attempt to hide his frustration when he made way for Mark Viduka in Saturday's goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium.

Martins went straight to the visiting dressing room without shaking manager Joe Kinnear's hand, clearly feeling he should not have been the one to be sacrificed for fit-again Viduka, making his comeback against his old club from a six-month injury lay-off.

However, Martins – who has scored five goals so far this season – has since apologised to Kinnear for his act of petulance.

He said: "I was absolutely gutted at being hauled off, and it was all down to sheer disappointment.

"Like any other player, I'm, always disappointed when I'm substituted, but I'm sorry if what I did was a problem, and perhaps it was wrong for me to go into the dressing rooms and not the bench."

Martins – like strike partner Michael Owen – was starved of service at the Riverside Stadium, but he still struck the crossbar in the first half.

And he is hoping Kinnear, like Kevin Keegan last season, can accommodate him, Viduka and Owen in his starting 11.

Martins added: "I was feeling good, and felt as though I could score. I still don't know, or understand, why I was called off.

"I don't suppose it was a surprise that Mark Viduka was brought on, especially as there were no goals, but I was hoping I would get the chance to play alongside him and Michael Owen, and not be the one to make way for him.

"When the two of us and Michael were used together last season, we had a fair amount of success."

In a first half of few clear-cut chances – neither Ross Turnbull nor Shay Given had a single save of any note to make – it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes before the break.

The industrious Danny Guthrie carved his way into the Boro penalty area and saw his shot blocked by Emanuel Pogatetz.

However, Martins was quickest to react and he span and thumped a left-foot shot against the crossbar with Turnbull beaten.

That was as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 45 minutes, and although Nicky Butt went close with a curling 42nd-minute free-kick, the Teessiders too had their half-chances.

Stewart Downing, playing his 100th game at the Riverside, fired a right-foot shot over from distance with 17 minutes gone and Julio Arca curled another effort too high 14 minutes later.

Didier Digard might have given his side the perfect start to the second half had he connected with an ambitious volley within seconds of the restart, but he competely missed his kick.

However, Guthrie went much closer at the other end two minutes later when, after his side had broken from deep, he drilled a right-foot effort just wide.

Pogatetz had to hack away a 52nd-minute Charles N'Zogbia cross inside the six-yard box after the Frenchman had carved his way inside from the left with the game opening up nicely.

Alves saw a 55th-minute shot deflected wide after Digard had done well to find him on the edge of the box, although he was slow to react to Jose Enrique's error three minutes later, and Sebastien Bassong had to come to his rescue with Jeremie Aliadiere looming.

Boro were starting to mount a concerted threat and N'Zogbia had to clear a 61st-minute Aliadiere header of the line from Downing's corner after Habib Beye had blocked another Alves shot.

But there was drama too at the other end and Martins saw a long-range effort clip a defender and drop just wide.

Mark Viduka's arrival as a 65th-minute replacement for the Nigerian did not go down well with the locals.

The Australian almost made an impact within six minutes when he shot for goal from Owen's knock-down, but Pogatetz made a match-saving block to deny his former team-mate.

But Given had to come to the rescue at the other end with 15 minutes to go when he got down smartly at his near post to keep out Hoyte's shot
agter the full-back had played a neat one-two with Alidaiere.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, Aliadiere (Mido 77), Arca, Digard, Downing, Sanli, Alves. Subs Not Used: Jones, Emnes, Johnson, Hines, Grounds, Walker. Booked: Arca.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt, N'Zogbia, Martins (Viduka 65), Owen. Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Geremi, Taylor, Edgar, Carroll. Booked: Bassong.
Att: 32,160 Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).