Emmanuel Adebayor has sparked Roberto Soldado into life, says Tottenham team-mate Danny Rose

Danny Rose believes Emmanuel Adebayor's return to the Tottenham side has also sparked Roberto Soldado into life.

Adebayor had effectively been exiled by former manager Andre Villas-Boas, who preferred to use just one forward and attack from midfield positions.

It left Soldado isolated and struggling to justify the club-record £26million transfer fee that brought him to White Hart Lane from Valencia in the summer.

The installation of Tim Sherwood as Villas-Boas' replacement last month has triggered a dramatic series of events, with Adebayor welcomed back into the fold, doubling Tottenham's attacking contingent and offering Soldado some support.

Three wins and a draw over the festive period has underlined the value of Sherwood's tactical switch.

And whilst Adebayor's four goals in five games have captured the headlines, Soldado has been rejuvenated too.

"No disrespect to Andre but playing one up front has been a bit frustrating and hard for Soldado at times," said Rose.

"It is nice that he has got a bit of help up there with Adebayor."

However, if Soldado could be the key to Tottenham making a forceful charge at a Champions League berth, Adebayor is the unknown quantity.

The Togo man has never been the most reliable of performers, with his time at both Arsenal and Manchester City producing a mixture of brilliance and indifference.

Even during the 2-1 win at Manchester United on Wednesday, Adebayor contributed both the sublime - a pinpoint header to open the scoring - and the seemingly ridiculous - being carted off on a stretcher with nothing more than cramp.

Not that Rose is complaining.

"He has been like a new signing," he said.

"He has scored four goals in his last five games, which is brilliant for us.

"Considering he didn't play a game from pre-season until a few weeks ago, his energy levels have actually been brilliant.

"There were no questions about his attitude during his first season under Harry Redknapp and I can't speak for last season because I wasn't here.

"When I came back pre-season, his attitude was fine.

"Obviously there was a bit of a disagreement between him and Andre but it is finished now and we are all grateful he is back in the team."

With Christian Eriksen profiting from Antonio Valencia's lack of defensive nous in the full-back role, Tottenham were able to survive United's late rally and join a select group of clubs who have won in successive Premier League campaigns at Old Trafford.

It extended some outstanding form over the festive programme, which Tottenham need to take into Saturday's high-profile FA Cup showdown with north London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

"The manager said before the game we had to respect the opposition and not to think it was going to be easy just because they were sixth in the league.

"We had to earn their respect and we will have to do the same thing at the weekend.

"We need to try and weather the storm, break on the counter attack and nick a goal."

PA