Japan is thrilled about Son Heung-min's (33, Tottenham) injury.
Tottenham will face Nottingham Forest in the 33rd round of the 2024-25 Premier League at 4 a.m. on the 22nd (Korea time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
With 37 points, Tottenham is 16th in the league. They barely avoided relegation, but the club is staring down its worst-ever record. Nottingham (57 points), where Hwang Ui-jo played, is 6th.
Captain Son Heung-min has been confirmed to miss three consecutive matches due to a foot injury. Son was unable to participate in the away match against Frankfurt in Germany for the Europa League quarterfinal second leg, as he focused on injury rehabilitation. Instead, Tottenham featured Matthis Telle, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson in a three-man front line. In the 43rd minute of the first half, Dominic Solanke scored a decisive penalty, leading Tottenham to a 1-0 victory on enemy territory.
Initially, head coach Ange Postecoglou said that Son Heung-min's injury was not serious. However, ahead of the second leg, he changed his tone, saying, "Son Heung-min's condition has worsened rather than improved. We need to monitor his status for the time being."
It turned out that Postecoglou did not protect Son Heung-min properly. Son was injured by a deep tackle from Frankfurt's Djibril Sow in the 61st minute of the first leg. Son complained of severe pain.
Son actually played for about 30 more minutes before being substituted. There is also blame on the coaching staff for not accurately assessing the player's condition. Ultimately, Son, who was not treated in time, appears to have aggravated his injury by pushing through.
Japanese media also focused on Son Heung-min's injury. Soccer Digest reported, "Korean national team striker Son Heung-min has been sidelined recently due to a leg injury. The injury has proven to be more serious than expected. Even Korean media have raised the possibility of him being out for the season."
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, Son Heung-min has consistently shown his scoring ability. After finishing with 4 goals in the 2015-16 season and adapting to England, he started a streak of scoring more than 10 goals in 8 consecutive seasons, with 14 goals the following year. Notably, Son scored 23 goals in 2022, earning the joint top scorer title alongside Mohamed Salah, making him the first Asian player to win the top scorer award.
However, this season, his record seems to be in jeopardy due to injury. Son has only 7 goals and 9 assists, falling short of expectations. With only 6 Premier League matches remaining, Son must score more than 3 goals to maintain his record.
Soccer Digest noted, "This is the most critical time in Son Heung-min's career. With Tottenham eliminated from both the Premier League and League Cup, they are relying on the Europa League for glory. Son has never won a title in his playing career. If Son cannot return, not only will the chance for a title be lost, but he will also miss a chance to score double digits."
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