Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham)'s return time remains unclear. 'Game sense' is under threat on the road to European trophies.

Tottenham Hotspur will play an away match against West Ham United in the 35th round of the Premier League on the 4th (Korean time). Then on the 9th, they will head to Norway to face Bodø/Glimt in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinals.

This schedule is a pivotal moment for Tottenham's season. However, the team's ace, Son Heung-min, is still not in a condition to participate in matches.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou noted in a press conference held on the 2nd regarding Son Heung-min's current condition, "He is recovering but has not yet participated in team training." He continued, "He is improving little by little every day. However, we need to wait longer to see how much time he will need before the second leg."

Son Heung-min has been excluded from the squad 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 has been unable to play, Tottenham has played a total of five matches, including in the Premier League and Europa League, but Son has missed all of them.

He was also on the bench during the first leg of the semifinals against Bodø/Glimt held at home, but he was not a candidate for participation. He continued to support the team in casual clothes and stood up to applaud every time a goal was scored. The club shared this scene with the caption "SONNY, our everything" on its official social media account.

An emotional scene does not necessarily indicate a return is imminent. There are analyses suggesting that recovery is slower than expected. Sports medicine expert Rajpal Brar stated, "Foot injuries require careful rehabilitation. Son Heung-min has not yet returned to full team training, and it seems unlikely he will participate in matches for at least the next week."

Brar said, "Players like Son Heung-min, who are required to have explosive movements and face pressure, need to approach their situation more conservatively." This means that even if physically possible, pushing to play could lead to a season-ending situation.

Regarding the actual return time, rather than a specific schedule, 'final' was mentioned. Paul O'Keeffe, a reporter familiar with the internal situation at Tottenham, reported through his personal channel on the 2nd that "Son Heung-min has a possibility of returning for the Europa League final." This implies indirectly that the chances of his participation in the second leg of the semifinals are low.

In the end, Son Heung-min must continue to engage in a 'timing battle' for the remainder of the season. While game sense is gradually fading, Tottenham has no choice but to wait for him until the end. Currently, the scenario of making the final stage his return is likely, but it is only possible if Tottenham advances to the final.

Postecoglou stated, "Son Heung-min is improving. However, he is still only participating in individual training. He has walked on the grass, but we need to keep watching," indicating that whether he will play in the next league match as well as the second leg of the Europa League remains uncertain.

In addition to Son Heung-min, the injury list is growing. Midfielder Lucas Beeryval received a season-ending diagnosis after injuring his ankle ligaments during training. He recently signed a long-term contract extension with the club until 2031, but he was also left off the roster for the first leg of the semifinals. Additionally, James Maddison (knee) and Dominic Solanke (thigh) are also in situations where their participation in the match against West Ham is uncertain.

Postecoglou confirmed, "The ligament injury is quite serious. The remainder of the season will be difficult," officially putting his season on hold.

Tottenham gained an advantageous position for the final by defeating Bodø/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg. However, the away second leg is a variable, and the absence of key resources, including Son Heung-min, still puts pressure on the team.

Tottenham is effectively treating this tournament as their last opportunity to escape a 17-year drought of trophies since the 2008 League Cup. Fans are still focused on whether Son Heung-min will reappear on the pitch wearing the team jersey at the end of this journey.

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