By PAUL JIGGINS
ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS insists Emmanuel Adebayor is happy at Tottenham — even though he did not travel to Slovenia.
Adebayor is yet to start a game since rejoining Spurs for £5million from Manchester City in August following a successful loan spell last term.
The Togo striker has stayed at home for the North Londoners’ Europa League clash with Maribor tonight, with the club citing a back injury as the reason for his absence.
And boss Villas-Boas denies Manu is unhappy at the club.
AVB said: “Is he happy? I think so. He was massively happy last year at Tottenham.
“Right now things are going excellently for Jermain Defoe, so it’s difficult for Ade who did so well last season. But a player of his dimension is always threatening to come in, so I’d say he’s pretty happy.”
Most expected Adebayor, 28, to be given a run-out in Maribor.
But after landing here last night, AVB said: “Adebayor has a pain in his back that he’s had for quite some time. He had it last season too.
“He felt it in training after the Chelsea game so he hasn’t travelled with the team.
“The assessment we do gives us the chance to count on him for the trip to Southampton on Sunday, because there isn’t a lot of time between the games.”Adebayor’s absence means Defoe will once again play for Spurs.
The England man, 30, has started 10 of his team’s 11 games in all competitions this season.
He has also made four international appearances.
But AVB said: “I am not concerned by his workload.
“Certainly we have a couple of games coming up where we may have to address the situation — but not now.”
Gareth Bale has also not travelled following the birth of his daughter on Saturday.
AVB admitted: “It’s very emotional for him right now, like it has been for one or two of us in the past. We’ve no doubts about his mental state for the Southampton game.”
