"Son Heung-min appears to have played his last match at Tottenham."

Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 19th (Korean time) that "Son Heung-min is in a difficult situation to participate in matches for the time being due to a complex foot injury, and it is highly likely that he will miss the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest."

Son Heung-min has not played in the Premier League match against Wolverhampton or the second leg against Frankfurt since starting in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg against Frankfurt on the 11th.

The Tottenham club stated officially that "there was a bruise in the foot area and he is currently recovering."

In response, Dr. Razpal Brar, a sports physiotherapist and rehabilitation expert, noted that "the foot is the most heavily loaded area for soccer players, and even a small injury can often lead to complicated prognoses."

Additionally, Tottenham Hotspur News said, "It seems that Son Heung-min has already played his last match at Tottenham." This ties in his injury situation with rumors of a possible transfer.

It was also mentioned that "the extent of Son Heung-min's injury has not been disclosed. This could be a decision considering the summer transfer market. Son Heung-min not participating and not going to Germany raises the possibility of internal discord within the team."

The BBC criticized Son Heung-min, stating, "He no longer seems to be an indispensable presence at Tottenham. Just a short while ago, it was unimaginable to substitute Son Heung-min. However, unlike Kane, Son Heung-min's influence is gradually diminishing. His speed has decreased, along with his impact in matches." Criticism directed at Son Heung-min has been intensifying over time.

The club is maintaining a cautious stance regarding Son Heung-min's recovery status. With the competition for the Premier League top positions becoming virtually difficult, the prevailing analysis is that rather than rushing his return, it would be better to focus on thoroughly improving his condition in preparation for the UEFA Europa League semifinals.

Tottenham currently faces a situation where entering the top 5 in the league is effectively becoming unfeasible, making it difficult to overcome the point gap in the remaining schedule. In contrast, having successfully reached the semifinals of the UEFA Europa League, they continue to hold the potential for success in European competitions. In this context, it seems that internally, Tottenham will concentrate on Son Heung-min's physical recovery for his performance on the European stage rather than hastening his return to the league.

Tottenham's manager Ange Postecoglou said, "Even though Son Heung-min did not participate in the match against Frankfurt, everyone contributed together and made a significant effort. The victory against Frankfurt will help with the outcomes for the remainder of the season," adding that "Son Heung-min will also miss the match against Nottingham. He has been dealing with foot issues for a while and requires time to recover. He will miss the match against Nottingham as well."

Postecoglou also stated, "I do not know how long he will be out. The situation has not improved and is getting worse, so rest is absolutely necessary. Son Heung-min is someone who always wants to play, so we are looking to give him some rest. Over the next few days, we will monitor how things progress and make a decision."

The manager emphasized that even though Son Heung-min is not playing, he still impacts the team. "I did not communicate separately with Son Heung-min, but he was with the players. He continues to play a significant role. Even though he could accompany us, considering reaching the semifinals, I believe it's right to rest him and keep him available. I wanted to give Son Heung-min the opportunity to rest so he can play in the semifinals. I saw Son Heung-min today, and he looked very happy. He seemed motivated to return quickly."

Tottenham will face Norway's FK Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League semifinals. Since more tangible results can be expected on the European stage than in the Premier League, the decision on whether to utilize Son Heung-min and his recovery of match fitness is likely to have a significant impact on the team's future.

This season, Son Heung-min has had a significant amount of playing time in both league and European competitions, having played a key role in his team's attacking strategy.

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