Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham: Emmanuel Adebayor set to return to the Tottenham starting XI with Andre Villas-Boas gone

Togo striker expected to be given a fresh chance under Tim Sherwood

Emmanuel Adebayor in action against Manchester City during his only appearance for Tottenham this season last month (GETTY IMAGES)

Emmanuel Adebayor is set to start for Tottenham Hotspur against West Ham United in the Capital One Cup quarter-final tonight, giving the Togo striker a chance to resurrect his White Hart Lane career with Andre Villas-Boas no longer the club’s manager.

Adebayor was marginalised under Villas-Boas, making only one substitute appearance this season, in Spurs’ 6-0 defeat at Manchester City last month, but the 29-year-old is expected to be given an opportunity by interim manager Tim Sherwood.

It is understood that Villas-Boas’s fate was sealed at Tottenham when he told the club’s chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Franco Baldini that he would not pick Adebayor – despite the team’s lack of goals. They have scored 15 Premier League goals this season – two less than Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.