Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino refuses to guarantee a first team return for Emmanuel Adebayor.

Harry Kane seized his chance while Adebayor struggled with injuries and returned to Africa for personal reasons.

"Football pays when you work hard," said Pochettino, on the subject of 21-year-old Kane. "We need to take advantage of the player's moment."

Adebayor, 30, was not included in the squad who beat Burnley on Saturday.

Asked if he would need to bring the Togo striker back for the Christmas programme, with three games in seven days, starting at Leicester, Pochettino shrugged and said: "Maybe, maybe."