Back from the dead, and deadlier than ever

Fate and fickle fortune have shared celebratory high fives with John Terry and Emmanuel Adebayor this season.

Cast aside and viewed as yesterday’s men, neither would have got past the first round of a Premier League popularity contest last season. Largely disliked by the public, they were also pretty much dead men walking at Chelsea and Tottenham — until Jose Mourinho and Tim Sherwood stepped in to sanction their reprieves.

Spared the chop and perhaps stung by their own footballing mortality, both heavyweights have since come out fighting. So much so that their individual duel at Stamford Bridge in the early hours of tomorrow morning effectively tops the weekend bill. It is a slug-fest that is well worth staying up for.

Terry’s renaissance at the age of 33 has been hugely impressive.

Under the ever-pragmatic Rafa Benitez, the club captain’s perceived lack of pace and dip in form lost him the trust of the Spaniard. Usurped by Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz, the skipper was relegated to fourth choice. Much like Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United right now, it seemed JT was washed up and ready for retirement.

Mourinho took some persuading at first. However, unconvinced by the alternatives (especially the unpredictable Luiz) Terry was handed another chance — and he has not looked back since. His partnership with Cahill has also proven to be virtually impregnable. As a pair, they have conceded only three goals in their last nine appearances; a run that includes seven wins and two draws.

Looking fitter, leaner and possibly meaner than he has for three or four seasons, Chelsea’s captain is back to something like his best.

Best known for irresistible (yet brief) periods of form that earn him bumper new contracts, Adebayor’s recent surge has been startlingly good and lengthy. Those who greeted his superb brace at Southampton just before Christmas with warnings that “it’ll never last” have been forced to eat their words.

In a run stretching 15 games, he now has 11 goals. In terms of his minutes-per-goal ratio, Adebayor’s current standing (one every 136 minutes) is better than that of Gareth Bale in 2012/13. He has been that effective.

Terry was not in the Blues side that drew 2-2 with Tottenham in the corresponding fixture last May, but he watched on as Adebayor ran his team-mates ragged with a spectacular one-off display. Scoring once — running from his own half before bending a shot into the top corner — and making another with a deft flick inside the box, the Togolese front man was the clear man of the match, with room to spare.

This time, he will probably find the going tougher. Chelsea’s organisation and defensive resilience in recent weeks has been formidable. With the league title now within their grasp, it is hard to imagine them giving Spurs too many clear sniffs at goal.

Spurs need wins, though, so expect Sherwood’s Champions League chasers to give it a go. Both full-backs will press forward and in playmaker Christian Eriksen, the Lilywhites have somebody who is capable of supplying Adebayor with the right kind of ammunition. If he can escape the attention of Terry and Cahill, that is.

With the on-fire Eden Hazard waiting to pounce on the break, I will not be surprised to see Chelsea deliberately allowing Spurs to come onto them as an attacking force. Trusting that Terry and co will stand firm, they will seek out the brilliant Belgian as soon as possession is regained.

This derby should be fascinating and fun to watch. It often is. Who will land the knockout blow? My money is on Terry and his table-toppers.

TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke

LIVE ON TV:

Tonight:

EPL:

West Brom v Man Utd (mio TV Ch 102 and StarHub Ch 227, 8.45pm)

Crystal Palace v Southampton (Ch 103 and Ch 228, 10.55pm)

Norwich v Stoke (Ch 104 and Ch 229, 10.55pm)

West Ham v Hull (Ch 105 and Ch 230, 10.55pm)

Cardiff v Fulham (Ch 102 and Ch 227, 11pm)

FA Cup:

Arsenal v Everton (Mio TV Ch 111, 8.40pm)

Tomorrow:

EPL:

Chelsea v Tottenham (Ch 102 and Ch 227, 1.30am)

FA Cup:

Hull v Sunderland (Ch 111, 9.55pm)

Man City v Wigan (Ch 111, 11,55pm)