Emmanuel Adebayor given leave by Tottenham and will miss Europa League match against Besiktas
The striker is to return to Togo for personal reasons
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been given leave to return to his home in Togo to deal with a personal issue.
It means Adebayor will play no part in Thursday's Europa League match against Besiktas.
Tottenham announced on Twitter on Wednesday morning: "We can confirm that Emmanuel Adebayor has been given permission to return home for personal reasons. This is a private matter and so we will not be providing any further comment."
The Premier League club are certain to qualify from Group C alongside their Turkish opponents, and avoiding defeat would ensure they finish top.
Adebayor has not played for Spurs since the 2-1 defeat at home to Stoke on November 9, having been laid low by back and hamstring complaints as well as a virus.
The Togo striker has struggled for form since Mauricio Pochettino's arrival at White Hart Lane, scoring just twice in 12 appearances.
While the 30-year-old misses the trip to Turkey, there could be a welcome return to action for Kyle Walker.
The right-back has not featured for Spurs since the first leg of the Europa League last-16 clash with Benfica on March 13 with an abdominal issue which saw him miss out on England's World Cup squad and undergo surgery in September.
Walker returned to first-team training a month ago and could now make his first appearance in nine months against Besiktas, having travelled with the team to Istanbul.
PA
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