Whether Tottenham finish in the top four this season will be decided by a multitude of factors but among the most prominent is how Harry Redknapp manages Aaron Lennon’s troublesome hamstrings.

Lennon is far from the headline act at White Hart Lane but his reintroduction following more than three weeks out against Swansea yesterday restored the balance to Spurs’ line-up and helped provide the platform for success.

The 24-year-old may not have contributed directly to the goal that edged Tottenham ahead three minutes after his entrance as a substitute but the consequential reshuffle reverted the home side’s key players to their more natural positions.

Luka Modric moved to a more orthodox central midfield role while Rafael Van der Vaart abandoned a right-wing station he has always been an awkward fit for to thrive in the space behind Emmanuel Adebayor in attack.

Spurs’ midfield had hitherto been pulled around by a Swansea side impressively calm in possession and inventive in their movement which further enhanced manager Brendan Rodgers’ burgeoning reputation, even in defeat.

Assistant manager Kevin Bond and first team coach Joe Jordan were repeatedly screaming at Sandro and Scott Parker from the touchline to press their opponents and maintain their shape in possession.

With several players operating out of position, Spurs struggled to match the irrepressible rhythm their 4-4-1-1 system often engenders and the scrambled picture even left those within Redknapp’s staff baffled. “It was good to see Aaron back,” he said.

“I just got a text from somebody saying ‘it was great that you went 4-4-2’ [when Lennon came on]. ‘I thought, I don’t remember doing that’. It was one of my scouts, which really scares me!

“We played 4-3-3 all the way through. We stuck him wide and played [Gareth] Bale wide and Adebayor up front and three in midfield still. We never changed the system. But suddenly he gave us that little bit more width.”

Lennon (right) crafted the goal that settled proceedings with a fine cross stood up to the back post for Adebayor to score his second header in 13 minutes.It was a moment that typified the danger Lennon can pose — unmatched on the right by any other member of the squad — while also providing a dual threat on the flanks to attract some attention away from Bale for the Welshman, who was excellent yesterday, to thrive. His impact was not lost on Rodgers.

“In relation to the final goal, when you face that stature and physicality like Adebayor, the question is can you stop the cross?” he said.

“Aaron Lennon dug it out really well. It was a great bit of skill and that’s what he is great at in small spaces.

“He manoeuvres the ball really well, has a good touch and crosses with great delivery. I thought in the main, if you look at a lot of the delivery into the box, our players do incredibly well.

“But there are going to be times when we get outdone.”

Lennon provided such a moment and it led to the unusual situation of the supporters chanting the provider’s name rather than the goalscorer.

In fact, Lennon received a rousing reception upon entering play that felt somewhat disproportionate to his perceived popularity at the club.

That is not to suggest the England winger is an unloved figure but more that the euphoria greeting his return was recognition of the importance he has to Spurs’ play as much as a show of individual affection for a player who has often been aloof with the media. Redknapp must find the right balance in his use of Lennon, given his vulnerable hamstrings. Of all the reasons proffered for Spurs five-game winless run in the League, Lennon’s absence for four of them from the outset was a factor.

“Next week is going to be a juggling act playing Saturday and Monday,” said Redknapp. “It is going to be survival of the fittest, trying to get two teams ready. We have got a long slap up to Sunderland for a tough game and then we have to come back and play Norwich at home. You are going to have to change the team around.

“I think Aaron will be ready for 90 minutes but you won’t get two games out of him next weekend. No chance.

“He’ll play one game — whichever one I choose to play him in. He keeps getting little hamstring problems and I think he and the medical people would be a bit wary of playing two games in quick time.”

Lennon’s team-mates hope Redknapp makes the right call. “I’m very happy personally for him that he is back and in good form,” said defender Younes Kaboul. “He proved again that he is a class player with a beautiful assist to Adebayor. I hope that he is not going to have any more injuries.”

The sight of Van der Vaart and Adebayor as Tottenham’s goalscorers is a hugely encouraging sign for a team that had been alarmingly profligate in recent weeks.

Van der Vaart’s smartly taken opener preceded Gylfi Sigurdsson’s volley before Adebayor put a goal drought behind him — three strikes in 15 matches prior to yesterday — with two late headers.

With the four teams from Arsenal in third to Newcastle in sixth separated by only five points, the final reckoning will be determined by fine margins and Lennon’s return could prove a significant moment for Tottenham’s cause.