Mauricio Pochettino pledges support to absent Emmanuel Adebayor

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has offered his backing to Emmanuel Adebayor after the striker took a leave of absence to attend to a family matter.

The club recently confirmed that the Togo international has returned to Africa for "personal reasons", and his coach was quick to pledge his full support.

"I hope he sorts his problems. I don't know how long [he will be out] but we hope he will stay with us next week to train. When you have a problem, your mind is not quite... it is difficult to give your best," The Mirror quotes Pochettino as saying.

"I have always told you that players are human. Family is important. They need to fix when family matters happen. You need to sort it. If not, it is difficult to give the best.

"It is important that he takes time, sorts out the problem and when he is back is ready to train and available."

Adebayor will miss Spurs' Europa League meeting with Besiktas on Thursday and is yet to confirm when he will return to England.