Emmanuel Adebayor speaks about his influence on the Crystal Palace dressing room

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR insists he will show his leadership qualities at Crystal Palace, and denied he is a disruptive influence in the dressing room.

 

Emmanuel Adebayor joined Crystal Palace late in the January window

 

The striker, 31, made his Palace debut against Bournemouth on Tuesday, ending his extended spell on the sidelines after being released by Tottenham last summer.

Manager Alan Pardew has brought the Togo striker to Selhurst Park in a bid to end his side's strike problems that have affected Palace all season.

But the former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid forward insists he can bring more to the club than a presence at the head of the attack.

 

"I don't think they have had anyone who has played in both La Liga and Ligue 1, so I am here for some of the players to learn from," he said.

"It's about being a leader. It means coming into training on time and doing my job professionally. That's what I have done in my whole career and that is what I will keep doing."

Adebayor has made a habit of leaving his previous clubs in controversial circumstances, but the player insists he will knuckle down and help Palace reverse a recent run of seven league games without a win.

 

Adebayor made his debut for Palace against Bournemouth on Tuesday night

 

"There are a lot of things said and written about Adebayor but if you ask every manager I have worked under - except maybe one or two - they will tell you I am a good influence in the dressing room," he said.

"I always work hard in training and I do it with a smile on my face."

Adebayor kept fit during his lay-off by organising practice matches back in Togo and insists he will soon be back to his best.

He said: "I don't have anything to prove. Things haven't always gone right for me in football.

 

"But I came here because I just want to step on that pitch and have happy moments again. I want to play for this club and do my best for them.

"I haven't played many games in this country, but I have played more games than all of these guys in the Premier League. I was in Africa where it is quite easy to have a game.

"I just had to call on some of my friends and tell them 'Listen, I need to play football this afternoon' and a game was arranged. It was a proper game with proper players in Togo who are like professionals.

"So I may have not played in the Premier League for a while but when I came on nobody could say I looked like someone who had not played for seven months."