Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) is coming back. The team's captain is returning to the pitch. This comeback is expected to be a crucial turning point for Tottenham ahead of the UEFA Europa League final.

Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou officially confirmed Son Heung-min's availability during a press conference held on the 10th (Korean time) ahead of the 36th round of the 2024-2025 Premier League against Crystal Palace. Tottenham will face Crystal Palace on the 11th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a crucial match at the end of the season.

According to Football London, Manager Postecoglou noted, "There are no new injuries. Overall, the team situation is improving," adding, "There is hope that Son Heung-min could play for a few minutes in tomorrow's game. He is the only player with a return imminent."

In fact, signs of Son Heung-min's return appear to have emerged earlier. He did not participate in team training ahead of the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt but was seen on the scene. At that time, Manager Postecoglou expressed disappointment that "Son Heung-min could not return, but there are positive signs," and said, "He is aiming to play in the weekend game."

After confirming the final match, Son Heung-min heightened fans' expectations by posting on his social media, "Good morning, and see you soon on the pitch." This was effectively a sign that his return was imminent.

Son Heung-min was sidelined due to an injury sustained in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals last month when he was tackled harshly by Eintracht Frankfurt's Jean Matteo Bayo. The resulting foot contusion lasted longer than expected, and he was excluded from the lineup for nearly a month.

He missed a total of four league matches against Wolverhampton, Nottingham, and West Ham. Since the specific injury details and return schedule were not disclosed, some speculated about the possibility of missing the rest of the season. However, assessing his recent condition and the manager's remarks, those concerns are seen as unfounded.

In the first leg against Bodo/Glimt, Son Heung-min visited the stadium in casual clothes and was spotted warming up on the pitch. While he has yet to fully return to team training, it is reported that his physical condition has noticeably improved.

The match against Crystal Palace could be an important turning point for Son Heung-min ahead of his return to the final. He needs to play in at least one or two league matches to elevate his match fitness, so he can showcase his best performance in the Europa League final on the 24th (Korean time).

Tottenham has achieved significant success this season by reaching the Europa League final. Their opponent in the final is Manchester United. Son Heung-min has led the Tottenham attack with 3 goals and 2 assists in 9 matches during this tournament. Although he has missed matches since the second leg of the quarter-finals, his crucial contributions in the group stage and early knockout rounds are considered the foundation for reaching the final.

This final holds special significance for Son Heung-min. He is currently the only Tottenham player with experience in starting a European club competition final. This also marks the stage for Son Heung-min's first major title.

However, looking back over the season, Son Heung-min's 2024-2025 campaign has not been smooth. With 7 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League, he is on the verge of missing double-digit goals for the first time since the 2016-2017 season, and his official record stands at 43 matches with 11 goals and 12 assists, which is somewhat disappointing.

At the beginning of the season, Son Heung-min, wearing the captain's armband, expressed, "I want to win now." Having faced numerous challenges on the European stage and often holding back tears in front of trophies, Son Heung-min is leading Tottenham into another final.

And this time, fans are focused on whether Son Heung-min can lift the trophy not just as a 'challenger' but as a 'vanguard.'

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