Newcastle United 2, Watford 1.

OBAFEMI Martins' match-winning brace on Saturday seems to suggest the Nigeria international is finally adjusting to life in the Premier League.

His second half double, either side of Hameur Bouazza's 57th minute equaliser for Watford, took his tally to five Premiership goals in four outings and, eight from 20 appearances in all competitions.

Martins has certainly improved since he took his first bow, at Aston Villa, in the English top flight.

But it initially looked as if Glenn Roeder's decision to splash out £10m, on an inexperienced, fourth choice striker at Inter Milan, was going to backfire.

It is fair to say the 22-year-old has struggled to adapt to pace of the Premiership.

Until Reading visited St James' Park, just under two weeks ago, Martins had netted only three times in 16 matches. Hardly a strike rate worthy of one who wears the hallowed Newcastle No 9 shirt.

Even now, despite his recent run of goalscoring form, the Nigerian resembles a nervous bundle of energy, unsure how to utilise his explosive pace.

There are occasions when he has little understanding of a striker's role. The basics of running into the channels, holding the ball up, spinning off his marker in to the hole and stretching opposition's defenders seem lost on him. Yet these skills are usually honed on youth academy training pitches.

On Saturday he tried an audacious shot from inside his own half when the scores were level and gave the ball away cheaply in dangerous areas when Aidy Boothroyd's side chased the game in the final stages.

The paradox to this is that Martins scored a goal at Blackburn last week, his second, that few strikers in the Premier League other than Thierry Henry could have conjured up.

The difficult things seem to come easy to him, yet the easy options are difficult.

Questions have, rightly, been asked whether the £10m spent would not have been better spent on a striker familiar with the English top flight, and a one who would not have needed the prolonged settling in period.

Yet despite all of these criticisms Martins has taken massive strides since making his debut at Villa Park in late August, and now, he is slowly learning how to become a team player in each game.

The Newcastle manager is sensible enough to be well aware his frontman is far from the complete centre forward. But he is confident Martins has a lot more in his locker.

"There's no 22-year-old of any nationality who is the finished article, even Jermain Defoe, who you could maybe compare Oba with as young strikers I've worked with," insisted Roeder who has seen his side move up to 12th following a run which has seen only one defeat in ten matches.

"To single him out would be wrong but he can only get better and better."

An example of Martins' overwhelming confidence, determination to succeed and confidence in his own ability arguably manifested itself against Steve Coppell's Reading side just under a fortnight ago, despite playing poorly.

While Martins is a naturally left-footed player he netted a penalty with his right foot, which not only shocked Newcastle supporters at the game but surprised the United boss too.

"People thought he's slightly more left footed than right footed but he took the penalty against Reading with his right. We wondered what he was doing but he stuck it away with power and accuracy.

"He's difficult to close down because he can shift the ball to his other foot and get the shot away. His heading ability is great. He's comfortable on either foot. There are some well known strikers who are very one sided but he can score off both feet.

"He has explosive pace, which is key in any top player in the modern game whatever position, but especially and particularly as a striker. He has an ability to score goals, which is ultimately what you're judged on."

The Newcastle manager finally acknowledged his expensive signing was a 'gamble' but says there was never any 'doubt' in his mind that Martins would not justify his judgement, and his price tag.

"I never had any doubt he'd adapt to this country. Last week he was settling in slowly, supposedly, but now he's scored a couple of goals he's settled in quicker," said the chief eager to get one over Martins' doubters.

"The gamble wasn't on his ability but on how quickly he could settle in and of course people expected too much too soon because of the price tag.

"No one expected anything of (Antione) Sibierski when he came in on a free transfer. Everyone's pleased for him when he does well but it's harder for Oba. He's taken the nine shirt and isn't scoring and has taken a bit longer to adjust to the Premiership.

"Arsene Wenger says foreign players take anything from six to 12 months to settle in and that will do for me. I trust his experience.

"We're getting towards six months and he's settling in to life in Newcastle as well. I'm sure living in Newcastle and Milan couldn't be more different."

While Martins may be finding his new life on the Tyne more comfortable in recent weeks one expensive foreign export is still struggling to adapt to his new surroundings after nearly 18 months at the club.

Albert Luque was left out of Roeder's squad for the Hornets visit to Tyneside and, apparently, the £9.5m forward stormed away from the ground prior to the game.

The United boss was keen to play down any suggestions of a bust up but believes it is perfectly natural these days for players to leave the ground if they are not involved in the 16 man squad.

"A lot of players, like Nigel Winterburn at West Ham, if he wasn't involved he didn't enjoy watching football and I've no problem with that. He was a great pro but he only liked playing - I assume Albert thinks the same," said a diplomatic Roeder.

"Arsenal, Man U, and Chelsea players do it. I could name two Chelsea players who weren't involved on Wednesday who drove home, and I didn't see Jose (Mourinho) having a big thing about it.

"Things have changed now, we're nearly in 2007 and multi-millionaire players do not necessarily wear a collar and tie like we had to coming to games.

"That's life, that's the way it is. It's not saying we all like it. Is he the first to ever do it? No. Probably more famous players have done it.

"One thing I've learnt from unnamed managers in the current world we live in is there are more important things to sort out and worry about."