Son Heung-min ruled out for UEL first leg due to injury recovery status

Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) will not participate in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) semifinals first leg due to the aftermath of an injury.

Tottenham announced on its official website on May 1 (Korean time) that "Son Heung-min will not be participating in the first leg of the UEL semifinals against Bodo/Glimt, which will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 4 a.m. on May 2."

Son Heung-min suffered a foot injury during the first leg of the UEL quarterfinals against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 11. He struggled against the opposing defense and was substituted for Mathys Tel in the 34th minute of the second half. He has since missed four consecutive matches, including a Premier League game against Wolverhampton.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou noted that Son Heung-min's recovery speed has not yet reached a level suitable for match participation.

He explained at the pre-match press conference on April 30, "Son Heung-min is currently separated from team training. It is still too early for him to return to the game. However, he is showing signs of recovery, so he should be back soon."

Fans have also voiced that Son Heung-min's complete recovery should come first.

The Tottenham fan site 'SpursWeb' hinted on May 30 that "some Tottenham fans demanded Son Heung-min's exclusion from the first leg roster to prevent a more serious injury." This has now become a reality.

Tottenham's form has not been good during Son Heung-min's absence. Although they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 in the second leg of the UEL quarterfinals, they are currently on a three-match losing streak in the league.

Their recent record over the last four matches is one win and three losses.

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