Tottenham Hotspur to assess Emmanuel Adebayor fitness

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that he expects striker Emmanuel Adebayor to feature against Newcastle United on Saturday.

The 28-year-old has been away on international duty with Togo for their Africa Cup of Nations campaign but if the striker returns to England before Saturday's match, Villas-Boas has insisted that Adebayor will play a part during the fixture if he is deemed match-fit.

Villas-Boas told reporters: "Obviously we have to take a look at him first. We don't have any news regarding injuries from him, so he's going to be selected for sure.

"I have to make a decision whether he will be in the starting XI or not."

Spurs are without Jermain Defoe, who has been ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury.