Tottenham vs Besiktas: I back Emmanuel Adebayor to deliver goals, says Mauricio Pochettino

Togolese striker yet to replicate last season's form

(Getty Images)

Emmanuel Adebayor has so far failed to recapture last season’s goalscoring form, but Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists he has been pleased with the striker’s contribution ahead of their Europa League match at home to Besiktas.

Adebayor impressed last season after being brought in from the cold by former head coach Tim Sherwood, scoring 14 goals in 24 appearances. But he has managed only one goal in six Premier League games this campaign.

Adebayor was particularly ineffective in last Saturday’s 1-1 derby draw at his former club Arsenal, but Pochettino was quick to defend the striker.

“I believe in Emmanuel Adebayor,” he said. “We know always that a striker during some periods finds it difficult to score, but he made a lot of effort for the team.

“The more important thing is that we are convinced that he or another team-mate can arrive at the possibility to score, but I am happy with his performance.

“It is true that he knows he needs to score because a striker always lives to score, but I believe in him and have no problem.”

Everton travel to face FK Krasnodar in Russia tonight still digesting the news that winger Kevin Mirallas is likely to be out for a while.

Mirallas appeared to pull a hamstring in the 1-1 derby league draw with Liverpool on Saturday and yesterday manager Roberto Martinez confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines. “At the moment it is still a bit early because the inflammation in the area doesn’t allow us to get the full extent,” Martinez said. “But clearly it is an injury that will keep him out for a while.”

Midfielder James McCarthy and full-back Seamus Coleman have also not travelled to Russia with the Everton squad for tonight’s game.