Emergence of Harry Kane Leaves Emmanuel Adebayor's Spurs Future in Doubt

"Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe not." Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino's response to a press-conference inquiry over Emmanuel Adebayor's availability for the Boxing Day game with Leicester City was decidedly brief.

Pochettino did expand a little more on the subject later on, but the general point was Adebayor—who has not appeared since Tottenham's November 9 loss to Stoke City—will play again when he decides to use him.

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A back injury and a period of personal leave meant Adebayor's recent absence up until the last week was unavoidable. Even so, less game time than he had previously enjoyed this season was already in the offing because of one notable factor: the emergence of Harry Kane.

The aforementioned Stoke match saw Adebayor dropped in favour of the 21-year-old for the first time in the Premier League this season. In a poor team showing, Kane struggled to get involved and his older team-mate joined the fruitless second-half comeback attempt.

Yet, even had Adebayor not subsequently got injured, he was likely looking at more time on the sidelines moving forward regardless.

Where he had been inconsistent and often uninspired in his role as Spurs' first-choice league striker this season, Kane was confident, even brilliant at times, as he led the line in Capital One Cup and Europa League games.

Adebayor's public acknowledgement/criticism of the negative atmosphere around White Hart Lane this past autumn only contributed to the air of dissatisfaction surrounding his own work (though some would argue he had a point there).

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Kane's stock has, of course, risen even further since then. The White Hart Lane faithful's new hero has netted four times over the last month or so.

Even when paired with another more experienced striker in Roberto Soldado, the hard-working, at times dominant displays of the academy product have made him second only to playmaker Christian Eriksen in importance to the team's attack.

Kane has been so impressive there have been calls for the England under-21 regular to be selected for the senior side in 2015. Former England forward and Bleacher Report columnist Stan Collymore has been among those to argue his case:

"Football is present," Pochettino stated on Tuesday. As high as his regard for Adebayor is, he has shown in his time in England he is not one to defer to reputation and past form if it does not hold up in relation to the next game. What is best for his team is above such superficial matters.

The possibility Adebayor could again be the best man to lead the line for Tottenham certainly should not be ruled out, however.

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The 30-year-old's finishing ability remains intact, as seen by his finely taken goals against Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle United. In the 1-0 win over Southampton—his best performance of the season—he was a willing outlet across the breadth of the pitch. His combination of skill, strength and intelligent movement flummoxed the Saints defence at times.

While hesitant to talk about Adebayor this week, Pochettino did detail his thoughts on the Togo international ahead of the Burnley win, via the Mirror's Jacob Murtagh:

"

I have full respect for him because he’s a great player, a great talent, but now it’s a moment and I need to stay with him and give him space. It’s not a nice moment for him and my job is to help him too. 

I have a very good relationship with him from the beginning. He understands football and that this is a business and a game. He is clever and we are clever too. My relationship with him has always been very natural and when I need to speak to him I do so. When he needs to come to see me in my office he does.

"

This, after all, is a player Pochettino selected as one of the team's vice-captains and stuck by as the team's lone striker even when Kane's cup performances were demanding to be recognised. Adebayor will not be summarily dismissed.

Nonetheless, doubts about his Tottenham future will persist unless he is able to convince in his next playing opportunities he is ready to perform in a slightly diminished role.

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Kane and Adebayor forged a decent, if not quite fully formed partnership late last season. With Soldado still finding only intermittent flickers of form, the duo could be deployed together again should Pochettino opt for a front two.

The recent return to a supporting axis behind a lone striker, built around Eriksen, could mean Adebayor's best chance to impress is as a substitute, though (or perhaps a deputy if Kane requires rest).

Motivated to do the job, that is a heck of an option for Pochettino to call on. Whether Adebayor will consent to it in word and deed in the event of Kane remaining first-choice is unclear.

Adebayor has largely proved a good servant to Spurs in recent years, but he is also undeniably a player who can quickly grow frustrated when he is out of the team (former Spur Robbie Keane was similar in this respect). As seen by the collapse of his relationship with Andre Villas-Boas in the Portuguese coach's last months at Spurs.

So, then, are Adebayor's prospects in north London good? Maybe yes, maybe not. Either way, we are going to find out how much stomach he has for the Tottenham cause.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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