Spurs’ midfield maestro Rafael van der Vaart has praised Emmanuel Adebayor’s instant impact since joining the club on loan from Manchester City.
Harry Redknapp has favoured the former Togo international over the likes of Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko and rightfully so.
Adebayor has started eight Premier League games, tallying thre goals and four assists.
“We had an instant connection, it is instinct. I always say that good players can play together,” Van der Vaart told Sky Sports.
“He is a striker who works a lot for the team. Most strikers when they don’t score are not playing well but he’s maybe even better when he doesn’t score.
“He’s amazing for us. His strength and his skills mean at least two or three defenders are worried about him. And I’m behind, so for me it is good.
“That’s why I’m able to arrive in the box for the chances. All the defenders are trying to stop him, and the ball comes to me.
“I’ve been scoring the goals but he has been very important.”
Adebayor’s presence has allowed Van der Vaart the freedom to play in a more advanced role.
Instead of patrolling the central midfield area, the Dutch international has been primarily featured as a “shadow striker”, i.e. support striker or center attacking midfielder.
“I like my position, it’s a role I grew up playing. I can play in different roles and in the national team I even play as defensive midfielder sometimes,” Van der Vaart added.
“You don’t have time to be nervous around goal. Some players maybe are, but in my career I have scored a lot – especially when I was at Hamburg.
“I have missed chances of course, but I am comfortable and confident when I shoot.”
In other news around the English Premier League, Joleon Lescott praised the form of fellow Manchester City right-back Micah Richards.
“Micah has been in immense form all season,” Lescott told Manchester City’s official website.
“His confidence is really high. He is in the best form of his career and has the world at his feet.
“I would say he is the best right-back in the league just now. If he continues this form he will be the best in the world.”
Richards is coming off another spectacular performance in the Premier League, having scored in City’s 3-1 win versus Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.
The England international’s quality will be put to the ultimate test in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.
If he is in fact one of the world’s premier right-backs, he will need to prove it on the biggest stage and there is no stage bigger than the Champions League knockout stages.
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