Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that the Premier League club can work collaboratively with the South Korean national team to ensure star attacker Son Heung-Min’s long-term fitness as he continues his comeback from a hamstring injury. The 30-year-old has endured a stop-start campaign thus far, missing several matches for both Spurs and his country.
Son, who shared the Premier League Golden Boot last season, suffered a recurrence of the injury in his first game back for Tottenham last month against West Ham. The setback caused him to sit out an additional three fixtures, underlining the need for a cautious approach to his recovery.
Balancing Club and Country Demands
With South Korea set to play World Cup qualifiers against Kuwait and Palestine during the upcoming international break, newly-appointed head coach Hong Myung-Bo has vowed to “protect Son’s health” and not overburden the talismanic forward. Postecoglou, while respectful of South Korea’s plans, believes a collaborative approach between club and country is the best way forward.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to push him hard on the national team just because he has returned to action for his club,” Hong told reporters. “We have to protect his health first and foremost.”
South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo
Postecoglou, drawing on his own experiences as Australia boss, expressed his desire for open communication and cooperation with the South Korean setup. The 57-year-old tactician recognizes the importance of the national team but also wants to ensure Son is managed carefully to avoid further injury setbacks.
“I’m reticent to get involved with national team managers and their plans,” Postecoglou explained to ESPN. “I certainly didn’t appreciate it when I was [Australia’s] boss if club coaches told me how to handle things.”
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou
The former Celtic boss added, “But you’d like to think there’s a collaborative approach there; that they’re looking at what he’s been through in recent times for both us and for the national team. We want a healthy Sonny, somebody who’s feeling good physically so he can contribute.”
Managing Minutes and Expectations
Since returning from injury, Son has been eased back into action by Postecoglou. The South Korean played 56 minutes in Tottenham’s 4-1 victory over Aston Villa last week before being withdrawn at half-time during their 3-2 Europa League defeat to Galatasaray on Thursday.
Postecoglou elaborated on his approach, stating, “We don’t want to put him into that cycle, it’s very easy to fall into it by pushing players particularly when they’re coming back from injury. We’re managing his minutes and building him up.”
With Tottenham already missing attacking options like Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, and Mikey Moore due to injury, the club is keen to avoid rushing Son back to full speed prematurely. The hope is that by working hand-in-hand with the South Korean national team, both sides can benefit from a fit and firing Son Heung-Min.
The Road Ahead
Son’s next opportunity to feature for Spurs comes on Sunday when they host Championship side Ipswich Town in the Premier League. The clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the club’s final match before the international break, after which Son will link up with South Korea for their crucial qualifiers.
As one of Asia’s most high-profile footballers, Son’s every move is closely monitored by fans and media alike. The coming weeks will provide a stern test of the collaborative approach advocated by Postecoglou, with both Tottenham and South Korea undoubtedly keen to have their star man firing on all cylinders.
For Son, the focus will be on regaining full fitness and form as he looks to put his injury woes behind him. If Tottenham and South Korea can strike the right balance in managing his workload, the fleet-footed forward could yet enjoy a strong finish to the campaign for both club and country.
