Emmanuel Adebayor believes Harry Kane is the "only one" who can "save" Tottenham's season -- just like he thinks he did last year.
Adebayor feels Kane represents Spurs' sole hope of qualifying for the Champions League after a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday left them six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League.
While the Togo international -- who has been struggling to get into the Tottenham team because of Kane -- believes opponents are becoming wiser to the youngster's strengths, he says he will respond positively after being snuffed out of the game at United.
"I'm very happy and pleased for Harry Kane, who has been doing fantastic," Adebayor told reporters. "I think he is the only one that can save our season, like I did the last season. Two years ago, it was Gareth Bale."
Kane has scored 14 goals in his last 14 league games and Adebayor is convinced that if he can continue his run then he can rescue Tottenham's campaign.
"If he keeps scoring two goals every weekend, yes of course," he said. "But don't get me wrong, now people are starting to get to know him and what he can do and what he cannot do -- his positives and negatives on the pitch.
"But he is an intelligent lad and he just has to find his way again and bounce back, but obviously he is the only one that can. We all have huge faith and believe in him. Hopefully, he will drag us out of the top seven and put us in the top four."
Adebayor made his first Premier League appearance for almost two months as a substitute at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid striker, who reportedly accused his mother of being influenced by witchcraft last year, admitted he has had his troubles in his personal life this season.
He added: "I went through a little bit of a dark moment in my career. A lot of things went wrong. We are all human beings, we all go through a lot at certain time of our lives. I think I have learned from it. I went through a lot of family issues. Now it is behind me and I am back on the football pitch."
Adebayor almost joined Queens Park Rangers at the end of the January transfer window, and may have owed his place in the squad at United to the injury that sidelined Roberto Soldado.
But while it had seemed his Spurs career was over with manager Mauricio Pochettino reluctant to select him, Adebayor feels he can make an impact in the remainder of the season.
"I am part of the squad," he said. "I am very happy. And for me, the most important thing... I'm not 21 years old anymore. I am 31 and I look at things differently. We have a lot of fantastic players in the squad and the manager has a choice to make.
"If I am in, like [Sunday], I came in for what, 10 minutes? I ran around, I did what I can do and whenever I am selected, I just have to help my team and show respect for them, and show respect for the club.
"The summer is a long way to go. We've got what, nine games to go? Which is almost two months. You know, football is a fun game. At the beginning of last season, everyone wanted me out; at the end of the season, they wanted me to stay."
Adebayor was critical of Tottenham fans in November for the atmosphere at White Hart Lane and is unsure if his comments about their negativity have contributed to his omission.
"I don't know if I have been punished or not, but what I know is, I'm me, I'm being me, and whenever something is strong, if I have to say it and correct the future for the club, I will do it," he said.
"Don't get me wrong, this club has given me the chance to play again in London and I'm so grateful. Maybe sometimes, whenever I speak, obviously it's misunderstood and people take it the wrong way.
"At the end of the day, somebody will say something that people will misunderstand and take the wrong way, but I have nothing against the fans. I always love the fans."