Adebayor told to train away from first team
TOTTENHAM striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been ordered to train away from the first team by manager Andre Villas-Boas.
The Togo forward missed the start of the Premier League season having been granted compassionate leave following the death of his brother Peter.
However, Adebayor has since returned to Spurs and subsequently been granted a second period of leave citing “personal reasons”.
The 29-year-old is due to return to north London next week and Villas-Boas will order Adebayor to train away from his peers until he sees fit.
“At the moment Ade is not with us, because we have granted him authorisation to stay up until Monday in his country for personal reasons,” Villas-Boas said. “Up to when I find it appropriate, he will train with the development team.”
While Adebayor will miss tomorrow’s game with Norwich at White Hart Lane, midfielders Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen are in line for their first starts in Tottenham colours.
And Villas-Boas is confident the duo can hit the ground running.
“The expectancy is these players will become world stars,” he said.
“We expect big things of Christian Eriksen and we want to develop him into becoming an important player for us.
“He [Lamela] is a natural talent. He’s not a pure winger, he’s creative and likes to come inside and find different space. He’s a player with tremendous potential that we have to work on.”
Another of Tottenham’s summer signings, Romania defender Vlad Chiriches, is unavailable with a work permit yet to be finalised.