Adebayor 'could play' against Burnley

Tottenham host Burnley in the FA Cup third-round replay tonight at White Hart Lane, with the unlikely return of Emmanuel Adebayor on the cards.
The Togolese forward has been absent for the last nine weeks, reportedly spending time back in Africa to be with an ill family member.

Adebayor has not featured for Spurs since the 2-1 home defeat to Stoke back on November 9th, but Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that the 30-year-old could well be in contention to play a role in the clash with Sean Dyche’s men.

“Could Ade play against Burnley? Maybe yes, he is not injured. Maybe I will make changes. We need to analyse who played against Crystal Palace and then see who has a chance,”Pochettino stated yesterday.

The former Manchester City striker’s absence has gone virtually unnoticed by the Spurs fans due to the incredible recent goalscoring form of Harry Kane, who has led the line for the side with aplomb in recent months.

As such, Adebayor’s personal issues away from the game have actually benefited Tottenham as a club, as his withdrawal has given Kane the time on the pitch in Premier League games to prove his ability to Pochettino and the rest of the footballing community.

There is no doubting that the youth graduate is now first choice striker and one of Spurs’ most valuable players; as such Adebayor returns to the fold in a bid to be the youngster’s back-up.
Roberto Soldado will likely be given the nod in attack tonight as Kane will probably be rested, but if the Spaniard fails to impress and the Togolese forward is on the bench, reintroducing him makes sense.

Spurs fans (and fans of virtually every club Adebayor has played for) have found out that the African centre forward performs at his best when he has something to prove or he is in a position where he needs to negotiate.

With the majority of the White Hart Lane faithful surely willing the club to finally cut ties with the journeyman striker this January, it would be typical Adebayor to come back into the fold, remind us of his positive attributes and get a goal.

Although surely not match-fit and out of the swings of things, Adebayor is a stubborn footballer and man, and as such will want to remind Spurs fans of what they have been missing over recent months.

With Kane now firmly the fans’ favourite and the darling of Pochettino, Ade will not want to be outdone.

His pride and ego have been monumental downfalls throughout his career, but in this instance they could work in the team’s favour as he will surely want to show his worth to everyone at the club.

With so many ups and downs with the Togolese attacker since moving to Tottenham in 2011, the time may well have come for Adebayor’s last chance.

Even if the club does decide that enough is enough and look to sell him this January, reintroducing him to first-team action can only be a good thing to draw in potential buyers.

Adebayor’s potential reintroduction adds quality, regardless of his questionable attitude at times, and with considerable reliance on Kane to get goals currently, Spurs may well need the African as the season heads towards the business end.

 

Adebyor is a disgrace and an insult to Spurs !