Ade backed to provide spark

City hoping talismanic striker can rediscover early-season form

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 5th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ade backed to provide spark

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Manchester City assistant boss Mark Bowen believes Emmanuel Adebayor is ready to reignite his season.

The Togolese striker, who moved to Eastlands from Arsenal over the summer, burst out of the traps this term, bagging four goals in as many games.

Since then he has seen his progress hindered by injury and suspension, with his personal lull coinciding with a dip in form for City.

The Blues have drawn each of their last four Premier League fixtures, edging them into fourth spot in the Premier League table.

City are, however, confident that they can rekindle their early-season spark, with the return to full fitness of talismanic frontman Adebayor expected to considerably aid their cause.

"It's been difficult for him," Bowen told the Manchester Evening News.

Intensity

"Ade was flying at the start of the season, for the first four or five games, and then had a suspension and an international break, which meant he missed a few games.

"He has also had a few niggling little injuries, so hasn't had a lot of actual day-to-day training. We work on intensity when we train outside, and he has missed that.

"His last couple of games have been about trying to patch him up and sling him back on to the field of play.

"He is really positive when he goes out there but it's not the same when you have missed training days. It has affected him going into games - he has had a mental thing about maybe not being 100 per cent.

"But this week he seems to be pain-free and hopefully will be 100 per cent for the weekend (against Burnley)."