Son Heung-min.[사진=로이터연합뉴스]
Korean soccer star Son Heung-min was rested for two consecutive games from his team Tottenham (England) due to a hamstring (muscle behind the thigh) injury.
Son Heung-min was diagnosed with an orbital fracture due to a collision during a UEFA Champions League (UCL) match in early November 2022, ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and was on the operating table.
Since then, Son Heung-min has never been absent from his team due to injury until last season.
He suffered from a sports hernia problem throughout the 2022-2023 season, but endured it until the end of the season and then underwent surgery.
Son Heung-min has missed two consecutive games recently.
Son Heung-min felt unwell and left the field after playing 71 minutes in the Europa League home game against Karabakh (Azerbaijan) held on the 27th of last month.
Son Heung-min, who was not included in the roster for the away game against Manchester United, which was played immediately after, will also not participate in the Europa League away game against Ferencvaros (Hungary) scheduled for the 4th.
On the 2nd, while the Tottenham team moved to Budapest, an enemy destination, Son Heung-min remained in London, England, undergoing rehabilitation, coach Anzhi Postekoglou announced in an official appearance. Internally, he was classified as an ‘injured person.’
Coach Hong Myung-bo, who needs Son Heung-min as a key offensive resource for the national team, is not happy with the sad news that raises the possibility of his departure.
Coach Hong Myung-bo, who took over last July, led the national team to one win and one draw. On the 5th of last month, they drew with Palestine without scoring, and on the 10th, they defeated Oman 3-1. Son Heung-min was the player who made Manager Hong smile brightly with his outstanding performance against Oman with 1 goal and 2 assists.
Coach Hong, who knows the importance of Son Heung-min as the focal point of the national team, placed Son Heung-min’s name on the list of players participating in the October international match despite knowing that he was suspected of being injured.
Coach Hong said at a press conference at the end of last month, “Of course, I and the club said that it is not a situation where I can play right away. “We have to wait and see whether Son Heung-min will play or not,” he said. “I directly communicated whether he would play or not.” He said, “I am seeing little improvement.”
Coach Hong also revealed that he had prepared a ‘Plan B’ in case Son Heung-min was unable to join.
If Son Heung-min is not called up to the national team at all and rests in the aftermath of this injury, Coach Hong will have to fill the squad with another striker or midfielder who will take charge of the second line.
Coach Hong mentioned ‘players who consistently play for their team for more than 70 minutes’ as one of the selection criteria. If this standard is followed, ‘high school student’ Yang Min-hyuk (Gangwon), who is recording 9 goals and 5 assists in his professional debut season, may be selected.
Jung Woo-young, who is expanding his position at Union Berlin (Germany), also appears to have recently developed a sense of practical skills. He played an average of 66 minutes in two games, and also scored against Hoffenheim on the 21st of last month.
If Son Heung-min is unable to play and a player with a different personality needs to be selected, Hong Hyun-seok (Mainz) could also be an option.
The national soccer team led by coach Hong Myung-bo, who has been deeply troubled by the news of Son Heung-min’s injury, will play an away game against Jordan at 11 p.m. on the 10th and a home game against Iraq at 8 p.m. on the 15th.
