When will Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) return?

Tottenham Hotspur will play an away match against West Ham United on the 4th (Korean time) in the 35th round of the Premier League. Following that, on the 9th, they will head to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinals. They won the first leg at home 3-1.

However, a challenging second leg is anticipated. The home of Bodo/Glimt, where the second leg will take place, is considered one of the most notorious artificial turf stadiums in the European League alongside Young Boys in Switzerland. In fact, Bodo/Glimt has boasted an undefeated record at home in its domestic league this season, making it a situation where they cannot afford to be complacent.

This schedule is a turning point for Tottenham's season. However, the team's ace, Son Heung-min, is still not in a condition to participate in a match. Coach Ange Postecoglou noted during a press conference on the 2nd regarding Son Heung-min's current state, "He is recovering but has not yet participated in team training." He continued, "He is improving little by little every day, but we need to monitor how much more time he will need before the second leg."

Son Heung-min was excluded from the lineup due to a recurrence of pain after playing 80 minutes in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals against Eintracht Frankfurt on the 11th of last month. During the period he was unable to play, Tottenham competed in a total of five matches, including the Premier League and the Europa League, but Son Heung-min was absent from all of them.

He was on the bench for the first leg against Bodo/Glimt, which was held at home, but was not eligible to play. He continued to support in casual attire, standing up to applaud every time a goal was scored. The club shared this moment on their official social media account with the phrase "SONNY, our everything."

An emotional scene does not necessarily indicate a return is imminent. There are analyses suggesting that the recovery is slower than expected. Sports medicine expert Dr. Rajpal Brar stated, "Foot injuries are a tricky area in rehabilitation. Son Heung-min has not yet returned to full team training, and it appears that he will have difficulty participating in a match for at least the next week."

Dr. Brar stated, "A player like Son Heung-min, who is required to make explosive movements and face pressure, must approach this more conservatively." This means that even if it is physically possible, forcefully returning could potentially lead to a season-ending injury. The specific timing for his actual return has been referred to as 'the finals' instead of a concrete schedule.

Journalist Paul O'Keefe, who is well-versed in Tottenham's internal affairs, reported through his personal channel on the 2nd that "Son Heung-min is likely to return for the UEFA Europa League final." This is interpreted as indirectly revealing that the possibility of him participating in the second leg of the semifinals is low. Ultimately, Son Heung-min must continue to engage in a 'timing battle' for the remainder of the season.

While his match readiness is gradually diminishing, Tottenham has no choice but to wait for him until the end. Currently, the most likely scenario has him returning for the final, but this is only possible if Tottenham reaches the final. Following the match against West Ham, Coach Postecoglou directly stated, "Son Heung-min is getting better. However, he is still only engaged in individual training. He has stepped on the grass, but we need to see how it develops," indicating that the next league match and participation in the second leg of the Europa League remain uncertain.

In addition to Son Heung-min, the injury concerns are increasing. Midfielder Lucas Veribal has been ruled out for the season due to damage to his ankle ligaments during recent training. He recently signed a long-term contract extension with the club until 2031, but he was also excluded from the first leg of the semifinals. Additionally, James Maddison (knee) and Dominic Solanke (thigh) are also in a situation where their participation in the match against West Ham is uncertain.

With Veribal's season-ending injury and Son Heung-min's delayed return, even if they manage to get through the match against Bodo/Glimt, a winner between Athletic Bilbao (Spain) and Manchester United (England) awaits in the final. Especially considering Manchester United's 3-0 victory against Bilbao away, the absence of Son Heung-min and Veribal could have significant negative consequences.

Coach Postecoglou is likely to be dismissed even if he wins the UEFA Europa League. For that reason, he desperately needs to win the league to raise his value. It remains to be seen how he will cope with the situation of multiple injuries.

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