Second Highest Paid Nigerian Player Poised To Make First Appearance Of The Season Against Best Paid

Former Inter Milan wonderkid Obafemi Martins is poised to make his first appearance of the new season for Shanghai Shenhua in their Chinese Super League tie at Changchun Yatai.

Martins was not in the squad for the first four rounds but it is all but confirmed he'll be in action on Saturday at the Development Area Stadium, with another marque signing Carlos Tevez unavailable due to injury.

The Nigeria international was in the traveling party to the Jilin Province while the Argentinian stayed back in Shanghai to treat his leg muscle discomfort.

Martins, who is Nigeria's second best paid player, will face off with ex-Watford striker Odion Ighalo if he is handed playing time.

The veteran striker caught the eye in pre-season and the highlight of his performance was netting a hat-trick in Shanghai Shenhua's 5-0 rout of YSCC Yokohama.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel