Adebayor has been a big hit at Spurs since signing from Manchester City on a season-long loan. Whether playing alongside Rafael van der Vaart or Jermain Defoe, the 27-year-old has performed well in the target-man role and has bagged a healthy return of seven goals in 11 matches to move his new club up to third in the Premier League table. There had been fears that Adebayor would prove to be a disruptive influence at White Hart Lane, but Redknapp has so far managed to keep the charismatic hitman happy and even the fans have warmed to him despite his history with Arsenal. Redknapp admits it would be difficult to persuade the Togo striker to take a pay cut given that he is on around £170,000 a week at the Etihad Stadium, but he is still determined to sign the player on a permanent basis after being impressed with the start he has made. "I would like him here full-time. It would be difficult, but we like him," Redknapp said. "He's done great for us. He gives us loads of movement when he plays, and he's a real handful." Some had questioned the wisdom of signing Adebayor given his colourful past, but Redknapp has had no problems with the former Real Madrid forward. "I've enjoyed having him here. He's been as good as gold. He's not been a minute's problem," Redknapp said. "He just gets on with it. He's an important player for us and he knows that. He's been here 11 games and we've won 10 and drawn one so you certainly can't complain about the start he's had here. "He's lively. He comes in every day, he enjoys his training and looks like he enjoys being here so it's good. "I've just been talking to him, telling him how well I think he's done for us and what a key player he is for the team, and we all love that, we all love a pat on the back." Lampard has spent a lot of time on the Chelsea bench recently, and speculation has been rife that Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas will move to replace the 33-year-old with Luka Modric in January. Redknapp insisted there was "no chance" he would allow the Croatian to leave White Hart Lane on Saturday and was equally adamant that he would not be making a move to sign Lampard. "It would be difficult for me to talk about him, to be honest," said Redknapp of his nephew. "He's made his name at Chelsea, he's a legend at Chelsea and I can't see him leaving Chelsea. I think he's still got a big part to play for Chelsea." Spurs will move six points ahead of Chelsea on Monday if they stretch their unbeaten run to 12 matches with a win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. Redknapp faces the difficult decision of whether to partner Adebayor with Van der Vaart or Defoe. Both are in form and have looked sharp this season, and Redknapp admits choosing which player to leave out will be hard. "It is a problem because I've got respect for both of them as players and lads. They're both top professionals and it's hard not to play them," Redknapp said. "It's difficult but you've got to do what you think is right. "You can't always make popular decisions. You've got to do what you feel is right." The incentives for Tottenham to win are plain to see. Three more points would further underline their status as serious title challengers and they also stand to break two records. Should Spurs win, they will have registered seven successive victories for the first time since 1967 and a draw will be enough for the club to go 12 games unbeaten for the first time since 1985.
