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| Emmanuel Adebayor was offered a chance to train with the first-team but declined |
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has said Emmanuel Adebayor has exiled himself to train with the kids after Tottenham refused to include him in their Premeir League or Europa League squads.
The Tottenham head coach told Adebayor at the end of last season that he would not be part of his plans, and his decision not to join West Ham on transfer deadline day left the striker in limbo.
Adebayor has also been told he is no longer welcome in the Togo squad after failing to report for a recent African Nations qualifier.
Pochettino offered the olive branch of allowing him to train with the first team in order to keep up his levels of fitness - only to have it thrown back in his face.
Pochettino, who is set to give Son Heung-Min a first start up front against Sunderland tomorrow, said: "We gave Adebayor the opportunity to train with the first team but he decided to train with he under-21s.
"I am surprised he did not go but this is his decision. Mine was a sporting decision."
Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat will not rule out another grim fight against relegation - despite bringing in three internationals.
On-loan United States full-back Deandre Yedlin is ineligible against his parent club but £7.75m signing from Liverpool Fabio Borini and Swedish midfielder Ola Toivonen, on loan from Rennes, are both in the squad.
Asked if his squad was now equipped to steer clear of the drop zone, Advocaat said: "Let us put it this way, I think we have to concentrate on relegation.
"Anything which is better than last season is an improvement. Every step we are higher is good for the club.
"What we have done is improve the squad and that is the most important thing. We are better but so are other clubs,
"Our first priority is to avoid relegation."
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