Adebayor backs Eboue to fight back

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR has backed ‘best mate’ Emmanuel Eboue to return “stronger than ever” after being booed off by Arsenal’s own fans.

The Ivory Coast midfielder was making his first appearance after almost six weeks out with a knee problem against Wigan at the weekend, coming on to replace the injured Samir Nasri during the first half.

However, Eboue suffered the ignominy of being hauled off with a couple of minutes left following a run of poor touches that had sections of the Emirates Stadium on his back and left manager Arsene Wenger fearing another lapse in concentration could lead to his team conceding a costly late goal.

Wenger has, though, indicated he intends to include the African in the squad that head out to Porto today for tomorrow’s final Champions League group match – a need that has been exacerbated by Nasri’s latest ankle injury concern, while England winger Theo Walcott remains sidelined.

“We all fight together and I feel sorry for Emmanuel Eboue. He is one of my best mates,” said Togo frontman Adebayor, who tried to console the 25-year-old as he left the pitch. “The fans booed him. However, that is football.”

Adebayor added: “He is going to be back stronger than ever.

“We are all sad for him because he has been out for more than a month with an injury and it was his first game back, so it was a bit difficult for him.

“But we are all going to talk to him and hopefully he will be back soon.”

Meanwhile a leading sports psychologist believes Eboue must laugh off the criticism.

Barry Cripps, a leading sports psychologist who has worked with several footballers, has urged Eboue to put the incident behind him so that he can re-build his confidence and return to the Arsenal first team.

“He has to try and totally ignore it if he can, and if possible, he should try and laugh it off, ” he said.

“He must work hard in training and be positive now and that will help heal whatever damage has been done and not to take it personally.

“He has to think what someone like would Roy Keane do,” he added.

“Keane would have stuck two fingers up in the air and get over this. He has to behave positively because if he doesn’t do that then that will make him worse for him next time.