Returning striker Emmanuel Adebayor was ‘almost unstoppable’ after the Togolese scored the opening goal in a 2-1 win at Manchester United to continue Tottenham Hotspur’s recent revival, manager Tim Sherwood said.
Adebayor has flourished under Sherwood since his appointment in mid-December following the sacking of predecessor Andre Villas-Boas who had deemed the striker surplus to requirements this season.
The 29-year-old has scored three goals in four English Premier League matches since his return and Sherwood’s appointment which has seen them pick up 10 points from those matches to move ahead of United into sixth in the standings.
“We know he is a top striker and one of the best in the league and when he performs like he is at the moment he’s almost unstoppable,” Sherwood told reporters of Adebayor, who headed Spurs in front at Old Trafford in the 34th minute.
“I think he keeps it going, I have got to think positively and I have got no reason to believe that he won’t keep it going.
“He’s a top striker and let’s hope we can keep him going because he is massively important to us.”
While there is little doubt about Adebayor’s talents, his attitude has often been questioned, with similar hot streaks at previous clubs Manchester City and Arsenal frustratingly fizzing out with concerns about his commitment.
Sherwood, though, was more worried about the mystery problem that forced his key attacking threat from the field in the 70th minute, shortly after Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen had doubled the visitors lead.
“He seems happy in himself and wants to play in every minute apart from when he has to come off on a stretcher which is unfortunate,” the first-time manager said.
“He has got ice on every part of his body in there so we are not sure what is hurting him more. We don’t know what it is and he doesn’t know what is hurting him more.”
Despite the loss of Adebayor, Spurs held on for victory at Old Trafford with Danny Welbeck’s 67th minute goal proving only a consolation.
Injury-depleted Spurs next face arch-rivals Arsenal, also suffering similar medical problems, in an FA Cup third round clash tomorrow with Sherwood rightly in buoyant mood.
“I think we have got good players and I think we can affect any team we play against if we play right whether it is United, Liverpool or whoever we play, or Arsenal,” he said. “I just think there is opportunities for our players if we play well and I think at times today (Wednesday) we did that.
“Yeah it’s crippling the injury list and these boys are having to go at it in this very tough period on their own.
“This is as big a squad as we have got, what you saw here today is as many fit players as we have got, apart from dragging in a few more of the young kids, we had a couple on there today, so credit to the boys they have really dug in and showed a lot of character over this period.”