Adebayor given leave by Spurs

Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been given leave to return to his home in Togo to deal with a personal issue.

It means Adebayor will play no part in Thursday’s Europa League match against Besiktas.

Tottenham announced on Twitter on Wednesday morning: “We can confirm that Emmanuel Adebayor has been given permission to return home for personal reasons. This is a private matter and so we will not be providing any further comment.”

The Premier League club are certain to qualify from Group C alongside their Turkish opponents, and avoiding defeat would ensure they finish top.

Adebayor has not played for Spurs since the 2-1 defeat at home to Stoke on November 9, having been laid low by back and hamstring complaints as well as a virus.

The Togo striker has struggled for form since Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival at White Hart Lane, scoring just twice in 12 appearances.

While the 30-year-old misses the trip to Turkey, there could be a welcome return to action for Kyle Walker.

The right-back has not featured for Spurs since the first leg of the Europa League last-16 clash with Benfica on March 13 with an abdominal issue which saw him miss out on England’s World Cup squad and undergo surgery in September.

Walker returned to first-team training a month ago and could now make his first appearance in nine months against Besiktas, having travelled with the team to Istanbul.

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