A forensic analysis of Adebayor assisting four goals for Spurs in 2012

Harry Kane somehow managed to steal the glory from Son-Heung min with the assists for all four of his team-mate’s goals in Tottenham’s 5-2 win at Southampton in September 2020 – but he isn’t the first Spurs striker to achieve the feat.

Jose Mourinho knew the score. Interrupting Kane’s post-match interview at St Mary’s, the Portuguese manager uttered the words ‘for me, man of the match’. The Spurs skipper responded with the sort of flustered happiness of an infatuated teenager being complimented by their more popular crush.

Mourinho also interrupted Son’s interview to make the same point, which seems slightly more unnecessary, but he was right about Kane, who once again showed his playmaking ability with four assists for Son before notching a goal for himself.

It was an outstanding performance, but he is not the first Tottenham player to achieve this feat in the Premier League era.

Step forward Emmanuel Adebayor. His career at White Hart Lane may not have survived the intense demands of Mauricio Pochettino, but the Togo forward was a revelation during his initial loan spell in the 2011-12 season.

Under the management of Harry Redknapp, Tottenham entered the year 2012 looking like a decent outside bet for the title. Their endearingly rag-tag band of talent (that included Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale) were arguably the Premier League’s most entertaining team of the moment. Adebayor himself was enjoying a prolific season and would end up scoring 17 goals in white.

When a decent Newcastle side, who were enjoying their best season in years, arrived in north London in early February, those expecting a close match had not reckoned with Adebayor. The man was on a mission.

His work started after only four