Gareth Bale claims Emmanuel Adebayor has transformed Tottenham’s dressing room - and can help them back into the top four.
Adebayor has developed a reputation as a trouble-maker at Arsenal and Manchester City after a string of high-profile bust-ups.
The Togo striker fell out with team-mates at the Emirates and was then bombed out of City after launching various attacks on manager Roberto Mancini and the club.
But Bale says "amazing" Adebayor is just the sort of character Tottenham need in their ranks as they fight to return to the Champions League next season.
“He [Adebayor] is a great character. He gets along with everyone," said the Welsh flier. “He has lifted the spirits in the place and on the pitch he does what he does. He can play the ball on the floor, in the air and he scores goals and that’s exactly what we needed.
“He is a good character in the dressing room, and we need someone like that, so it’s a great addition to our squad, and hopefully he can keep on going.
“He is a lively, bubbly character and it’s great for him to be here. The longer he stays the better.”
Tottenham missed out on the top four last season, but Bale is confident they now have a better squad.
They managed to keep playmaker Luka Modric despite prolonged interest from Chelsea and signed ‘leader’ Parker to marshal their midfield.
Bale also believes the blossoming strike partnership between Adebayor and Jermain Defoe can be a prolific one.
“There are no doubts in the changing room that we can’t finish in the top four," he said after their 4-0 thrashing of nine-man Liverpool.
“We showed, even when Liverpool had 11 [men], we were attacking and we were creating many chances and we showed that against Wolves last weekend and in patches against Man United and Man City.
“We are all confident we can get in to the top four, and I am sure that we will.
“There is always one surprise team up there and there’s the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. We know it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a long, hard season but we are prepared for it.
“We have added a few good players and I think we are still quite a young team when we have all our players playing so we are all still learning as a team and I think we are growing in confidence.
“I think the gaffer and the chairman know exactly what they want the club to be doing. They are taking us in the right direction.
“They have made two good signings in Adebayor and Parker and keeping Luka was massive for the club and the team, so we are aiming to achieve things and that’s why we want our best players to stay.
“Scott is a leader. He shows that on the pitch. He is aggressive. He plays with his heart
on his sleeve.
“He rallies us up before games and gets us motivated, so they are two great signings for us and they have shown that already on the pitch.
“Luka has been a true professional and has been great with everybody.
“Defoe struck up a good partnership with Adebayor and hopefully they can continue to do that.
Tottenham's next challenge comes in the Carling Cup, where they visit Stoke on Tuesday night.
“We have a great team, a great squad, and we know it will be a tough season," said Bale, "but we are just going to battle away, take each game as it comes and then hopefully we will be there at the end of the season.”
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ADEBAYOR'S PREVIOUS BUST-UPS
Compared by Zarif Rasul
April 2009 - Compares AC Milan to Beyonce, admitting that the Italian giants’ interest turned his head.
July 2009 - Blames Arsenal fans for his decision to leave for Manchester City.
September 2009 - Enrages Arsenal fans after celebrating a goal for Manchester City by running the full length of the pitch and sliding on his knees in front of the travelling Gunners.
September 2010 - Row with City boss Roberto Mancini after the Italian accused him of faking an injury.
September 2011 - Declares love for Arsenal on Match of the Day after goal-scoring debut for arch-rivals Tottenham.
Posted By John Cross
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