Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Premier League, Son Heung Min, South Korea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Football
Lewis Browning
Topics: Premier League, Son Heung Min, South Korea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Football
Tottenham could lose captain Son Heung-min for up to six games at the start of 2024.
Son was back to his best for Spurs at the weekend, picking up two assists and scoring from the penalty spot as his side beat Newcastle 4-1 to pick up their first win in six matches.
Questions had started to be asked of Ange Postecoglou's methods after a positive start to the season was almost wasted, but Sunday's victory has ensured faith has been restored in the Australian going forward.
The Tottenham squad has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks, with key men James Maddison and Micky van de Ven long-term absentees and Richarlison returning to fitness to score twice against the Magpies.
Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero have also suffered suspensions, but first-choice players are starting to return for the North London club.
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Son, however, will be a big miss. He is set to leave the club for up to six weeks in January, with South Korea - the country the forward captains - competing at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.
The tournament is set to take place from January 12 with the final scheduled for February 10. If South Korea make it to the final, Son could miss six matches for Tottenham.
After Spurs' game against Bournemouth on New Year's Eve, Son will jet off and miss the FA Cup third round game against Burnley on January 5. His side then face Manchester United, Brentford, Everton and Brighton, and their talisman could miss all three games.
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He will also miss the FA Cup fourth round weekend, scheduled for the end of January, if Tottenham get past Burnley.
While Son's absence will be a major blow for Tottenham, a number of other sides will also miss key players due to the tournament.
Wolves' Hwang Hee-chan will also play for South Korea, while Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal could play for Japan in just two of the other many Premier League players set to feature.
A number of players will also miss the period due to the African Cup of Nations, including Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson.