Son Heung-min has been again among the many objectives for South Korea, scoring within the World Cup qualifiers towards Kuwait and Palestine to smash the 50-goal barrier in worldwide soccer, and transfer inside seven of his nation’s file held by Cha Bum-kun.
Son is safely within the land of legends on the subject of his achievements and Tottenham boss Ange Posteocglou will likely be happy to see his captain hitting the online a few instances earlier than Saturday’s journey to Manchester Metropolis.
Spurs may do with a raise after dropping at dwelling to Ipswich on their final outing, a defeat which left them wallowing in mid-table and off the tempo within the Premier League. They might do with their most dependable supply of objectives discovering his rhythm once more, too.
Son has scored extra for South Korea (10 in 15 appearances) than for Spurs (8 in 26) in 2024 with a idea forming that on the age of 32, he may need misplaced a bit of of his zip.
He has scored in simply two Tottenham video games this season regardless of the workforce scoring freely. His most up-to-date was the fourth of 4 towards West Ham. Beforehand, there have been two in one other four-goal romp towards Everton.
On the finish of final season, he grabbed late consolations in defeats towards Arsenal and Liverpool. His final really decisive aim was towards Luton in March, a aim which took him past Cliff Jones into the membership’s prime 5 scorers of all time.
Tottenham may do with Son Heung-Min discovering his goalscoring contact once more at membership degree
The Spurs captain went by the 50 aim mark for South Korea within the worldwide break
Son has 4 Spurs objectives this season, however his final really decisive aim was towards Luton in March
Brennan Johnson on the other flank has carried a larger risk with seven in all competitions this season. Johnson’s sheer straight-line tempo and willpower to get in on the again publish makes him efficient beneath Postecoglou, who likes his wingers extensive to open inside channels for runners from midfield or his full backs.
One in every of Son’s nice strengths has at all times been his capability to go both facet of the total again from his place on the left wing, however his tendency has for years been to roll infield and pepper the aim with pictures off his proper foot or speed up into the areas created when Harry Kane dropped deep.
His most interesting particular person season got here in 2021-22, sharpening his ending in a workforce that grew to become scientific on the counter-attack when Antonio Conte took over from Nuno Espirito Santo. He claimed a Golden Boot with 23 objectives and 7 assists within the Premier League. Spurs completed fourth and certified for the Champions League.
But beneath Postecoglou, Son scores or assists each 109 minutes, a greater charge than beneath any of his different managers on the membership.
Spurs although are scoring greater than they did beneath Conte or Jose Mourinho and since he left for Bayern Munich there was no Kane to take the lion’s share, and all of the penalties.
The objectives movement from all areas in Postecoglou’s workforce and final season no one completed with greater than Son’s 17. Probably the most primary metrics bear scrutiny. Even on the subject of pure pace, the Premier League pace gun clocked him at a prime pace of 21.8mph this season, which is faster than 5 years in the past when it was first launched.
Son’s season has been disrupted by a hamstring harm. He picked it up late in a Europa League tie towards Qarabag in September and a setback pressured him to overlook most of October and prompted a warning from Postecoglou.
‘We have got to be wise about it,’ mentioned the Spurs boss as he conceded accidents among the many forwards had led him to play Son greater than he would have favored. ‘I do not suppose it is acquired a lot to do along with his age as a result of I have not seen that have an effect on him.
Son’s season has been disrupted by a hamstring harm sustained within the Europa League
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou admitted he must watch out with Son’s health
Regardless of turning 32, Son has been clocked at a faster pace than he was 5 years in the past
‘It is extra I simply do not suppose that sort of workload within the fashionable sport is sustainable. We have spoken loads about fixture overload and a part of that duty lies with us to attempt to defend our gamers and definitely with Sonny we’ll need to be aware of that.’
On his return, Son was changed early within the second half towards Aston Villa with the sport poised at 1-1 and threw a tantrum on the bench after coming off, notable as a result of it was so out of character. Spurs ran out 4-1 winners and along with his adjustments justified Postecoglou calmly dismissed his captain’s response as simply a kind of issues.
Like all gamers, Son desires to play. Past that, soccer is his life, such is his dedication to his profession. His deep reserves of bodily endurance come from punishing coaching regimes in his youth, designed and overseen by his father. So does his self-discipline and unflinching deal with his soccer.
He’s a real icon in South Korea, dedicated to main them to a World Cup in two years’ time within the USA with its giant Korean neighborhood.
Postecoglou understands what he means to his nation and no one at Spurs expects him to step down from worldwide soccer, however the stress of long-haul journey will solely add to the calls for of the relentless nature of AngeBall on his 32-year-old physique.
As soon as once more, muscle accidents are piling up on Tottenham. Wilson Odobert has had surgical procedure on a hamstring drawback. Micky van de Ven missed the final three video games and Richarlison is sidelined, each hamstrings.
In the meantime, Cristian Romero, who has been taking part in regardless of a toe harm, was pressured off throughout Argentina’s World Cup qualifier in Paraguay final week and didn’t characteristic towards Peru on Tuesday.
Tottenham plan to activate an choice in Son’s contract however his long-term future is up for debate
Son and James Maddison caught up a connection final season, however the latter is now out of the workforce
Woven into the Son debate and arguably as necessary as his advancing years, health or techniques, is the lack of Kane and the fading type of James Maddison. Son and Maddison struck an prompt chemistry initially of final season on the left facet of the workforce.
It helped soften Kane’s exit however Maddison shouldn’t be a assured starter now, with Dejan Kulusevski thriving in a deeper function and Pape Matar Sarr proving necessary to the midfield steadiness. The workforce is evolving in the way in which groups do.
Then there’s the matter of Son’s contract, which expires on the finish of this season with a clause for another yr which might be exercised unilaterally by the membership.
Mail Sport understands it has not but been triggered though Spurs absolutely intend to do that when the time is correct. It would tie Son down till 2026, then on the finish of this season we will likely be again within the unsure territory of a Tottenham captain with solely a yr on his contract.
Daniel Levy has had an aversion to stars strolling out on a free ever since Sol Campbell left for Arsenal within the yr he grew to become chairman. Kane was not granted his request to depart till grinding his contract into its last yr whereas displaying completely no trace of signing one other.
Would Levy need Son, probably the most well-known footballer in Asia and such an enormous industrial asset, to stroll out on a free in 2026? Will he look to promote him this summer season having protected his worth by activating the clause? Or would he be ready to lavish a brand new contract on a participant who will likely be 34 on the finish of this further yr?
In Wilson Odobert (left) and Mikey Moore (proper) Tottenham have thrilling potential on the membership
A becoming closing chapter for a legend is simple to get mistaken, however Spurs want Son’s objectives quick time period
In Mikey Moore, 17, and Odobert, 19, there are extensive forwards of thrilling potential already within the constructing.
Spurs couldn’t want to have a extra distinguished function mannequin for them than Son in his twilight years however would this have any attraction for him? He may not need to lengthen his time on the membership by signing one other one-year or two-year contract when there are more likely to be engaging offers and contemporary challenges on supply, probably within the USA.
These questions will develop into extra distinguished within the weeks forward. It could be remiss of either side to not be contemplating their choices. Managing a becoming closing chapter for the legends is simple to get mistaken.
Within the shorter time period Postecoglou wants Son scoring objectives and profitable video games once more for Tottenham.
