The spring-heeled 5ft 7in Nigeria striker climbed highest to power home a stunning header to silence the home fans at Old Trafford last Sunday - and help launch his club's campaign in promising style.

Keegan, one of the smaller strikers around in his day, was amazed by the 23-year-old's aerial prowess - and is backing Martins to terrorise defences, while he waits for Michael Owen and Mark Viduka to return to full fitness.

He said: "Oba on his own up front is a handful for anybody, with his pace.

"His leap for the goal at Old Trafford was nothing short of outstanding.

"The opposition have got to put big guys on him - because if they put someone of a similar size, he will beat them.

"I have never seen anybody leap like him."

Martins marked his goal with a trademark succession of somersaults which would not have looked out of place in the Olympic gymnastics arena in Beijing.

Several managers have ordered their players not to perform similar celebrations because of the risk of injury, a fate which befell former Magpie Lomana LuaLua during his time at Portsmouth.

But Keegan will be happy to see Martins going head over heels every week if it means he is finding the back of the net regularly - and that goes for Jonas Gutierrez's 'Spiderman' impression too.

"As far as Oba and his somersaults are concerned, I would love to see more of them - and I would like to see 'Spiderman' putting his mask on every week," said the Magpies manager.