Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) seems set to miss three consecutive matches due to the effects of an injury.
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham's manager, said on the 20th (Korean time) through the club's website, “Son has been playing with a foot injury for a while. Now is the right time for treatment,” announcing that he will not participate in the upcoming Nottingham match.
Tottenham will face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at 4 a.m. on the 22nd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. As Tottenham remains in 15th place, a victory is crucial to avoid falling into the relegation zone.
Son did not participate in the Premier League match against Wolverhampton on the 13th. He also missed the second leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals against Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) on the 18th. He is expected to take a break during the Nottingham match as well.
Postecoglou publicly noted after the match against Wolverhampton, “Son slightly injured his foot. We are being cautious.”
Although Son's return to team training was revealed, it became known that he did not travel for the quarterfinals away game against Frankfurt, indicating that he still needs more time for rehabilitation. The club explained this as a matter of injury management.
Ahead of the Nottingham match, Postecoglou said, “Son is resting to recover from his foot injury. It's important to rest for this type of injury. His condition has not improved and has actually worsened. We will give him a few more days of rest and monitor his progress,” adding, “Son is always an active participant in training, but this time we will give him time.”
Tottenham will play against Bodø/Glimt of Norway in the UEFA Europa League semifinals on May 2 and May 8. This is a critical hurdle that must be overcome to reach the final.
In this situation, it seems that Manager Postecoglou will focus on the semifinals while giving sufficient rest to team captain Son Heung-min.
The Tottenham community 'Tottenham Hotspur News' emphasized, "Tottenham has already lost competitiveness in the league. It's crucial to preserve Son fully for the Europa League," asserting that recovery should be prioritized over over-exertion.
It continued, “Tottenham aims to win the Europa League. Son's leadership, scoring ability, and ability to break down defenses are essential,” warning that “he must not re-injure himself.”
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (no unauthorized reproduction and redistribution)
[OSEN]