Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino Defends Emmanuel Adebayor

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino does not regret failing to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and has backed Emmanuel Adebayor, Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane to come good this season.

Pochettino made six signings in the summer transfer window but all in defensive areas and a return of one league goal between his three available strikers has contributed to Spurs firing blanks in two games domestically already this term.

Adebayor led the attack in Tottenham's draw at Arsenal over the weekend and was largely ineffective throughout but Pochettino is confident his forwards can return to form, starting with the Europa League group match against Besiktas.

"I believe in Emmanuel Adebayor," he said. "We know always a striker maybe 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."

The Tottenham boss added: "I think we have a strong squad. Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane play in the same place as a striker like Emmanuel Adebayor and have a future in Tottenham.

"I need to pick some players in different games but we believe in all the players we have."

Tottenham have an all-but fully fit squad to call upon for the visit of Besiktas, who were knocked out of Champions League qualifying by Arsenal, with only Danny Rose and Kyle Walker nursing injuries.

Rose was substituted after 82 minutes of the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium with an unspecified knock while Walker continues to recover from abdominal surgery and has not played this season.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Spurs are pressing ahead with their plans regarding a new stadium despite facing a high court challenge from a local landowner over the overhaul of White Hart Lane.

The ongoing delay means Tottenham will be unable to move into their new stadium until 2017, but they have enlisted the services of an engineering firm to oversee the foundations of the multi-million pound site.

According to Sky Sports News, a letter sent to Haringey reads: "THFC have today entered into a Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Design and Build Contract for the civil engineering ground works, concrete foundations and structure for the new THFC Stadium Project.

"The contract has been made with M Anderson Construction Ltd and the sum for the works is £49.773.727."