Son Heung-min's (33, Tottenham) return is imminent.
Tottenham will face Crystal Palace at 10:15 p.m. (Korea time) on the 11th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, for the 36th round of the 2024-2025 season English Premier League (EPL).
Currently, Tottenham is in 16th place in the league with 38 points (11 wins, 5 draws, 19 losses). They have already confirmed their survival as they have widened the gap with the relegation zone. In contrast, Palace is in 12th place with 46 points (11 wins, 13 draws, 11 losses).
This season, Tottenham has been struggling significantly in the league. By the 35th round, they had suffered 19 losses, tying the record for the most losses in a single season since the inception of the EPL. If they lose one more game out of the remaining three, they will earn the dishonor of having the most losses in a 38-game format in the club's history.
Failing to shake off their league struggles, Tottenham is now focusing on winning the UEFA Europa League (UEL), where they have reached the finals. The league has effectively become their second priority.
Ahead of the match against Crystal Palace, the biggest concern is whether Son Heung-min will make his return.
Tottenham posted a photo on the club's official social media account around 7 p.m. on the 11th, showing Son Heung-min arriving at the Tottenham home stadium for the match against Crystal Palace. Fans are eagerly hoping that Son will shake off his injury and participate in the game.
Son Heung-min suffered a foot injury during the UEL quarterfinal second leg against Frankfurt on the 11th of last month and has missed seven consecutive official matches since then. He also did not play in the UEL semifinals second leg against Bodo/Glimt on the 9th.
Manager Ange Postecoglou noted in the pre-match press conference for the Crystal Palace game, "I hope to let Son Heung-min play for a few minutes. He is the player closest to making a return." Tottenham also stated on their website, "Son Heung-min is aiming to return for the Palace match. His recovery is going well, and his return is imminent ahead of the Europa League final against Manchester United."
Son Heung-min also sent a direct signal of his return. On the 10th, he left a short message on his social media saying, "See you on the pitch soon."
Local media are also looking forward to Son Heung-min's return. 'Tottenham News' evaluated that "Son Heung-min has shown a strong presence in major matches for years. Even if he is not a starter, he is a player who can change the flow of the game by coming off the bench." 'Hotspur HQ' projected that "Son Heung-min might start on the bench and be brought in during the second half."
Son Heung-min's return is expected to positively impact not only the attacking line but the entire team. Currently, Tottenham is missing key players like James Maddison and Lucas Bourival due to injuries.
Meanwhile, the UEL final against Manchester United on the 22nd holds special significance for Son Heung-min. He has not yet lifted a major trophy on the European stage. This final is effectively his last chance to secure his first trophy since turning professional.
Since joining Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, Son Heung-min has been a key player for over nine seasons. He has played in over 400 official matches and scored more than 160 goals. He became the first Asian player to reach 100 goals in the EPL. In the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals, tying with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool to win the Golden Boot. He has scored more than 20 goals in the UEFA Champions League. He helped lead Tottenham to the Champions League final in the 2018-2019 season, but has yet to connect with a trophy.
So far, Tottenham has successfully reached the Europa League final without Son Heung-min. They decisively defeated Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals and now are set to face Manchester United in the final.
If Son Heung-min plays in the match against Crystal Palace, he is expected to focus on enhancing his match readiness before the UEL final.
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