Son Heung-min reveals he can't see with protective mask on, only wears it because his parents are worried

Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min has revealed that he struggles to see whilst wearing the protective mask but he wears it because his parents are worried.

Weeks before the start of the 2022 World Cup, Son fractured an eye socket and was made to wear a protective mask in order to represent his country in Qatar.

On New Year’s Day, Son took off his mask after just 20 minutes during the 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa. He then wore it again for the match against Crystal Palace this week but ripped the mask off when he celebrated his goal against the Eagles.

Now, the South Korean superstar has revealed that he can’t actually see the ball when wearing the mask.

He told The Standard: “Obviously, it’s not the same as when I play without the mask.

“My vision is still okay, but when the ball is coming to me, it’s sometimes annoying, because I can’t see the ball because of the mask. It’s not really bothering me, but it’s not the best.

“Against Villa, I was really frustrated, because I received the ball and then suddenly I lost the ball, because I couldn’t see it. I was just angry.”

Son went on to say that he only wears the mask because his parents are worried about him.

He added: “If I’m alone, obviously, I would play without the mask, but my parents, my family, my friends watching back in South Korea are all worried. Obviously, it’s a risk if someone hits me again.

“They [my parents] didn’t say you should wear it or whatever, but we were having dinner [after the Villa game] and they said, ‘Um, what happened with the mask?’

“Obviously, they’re worried. And also the physios and doctors said after the Villa game, ‘It’s your decision, but we recommend you should still be wearing the mask’, because the risk is still high, because it’s just seven weeks since the operation.”

Alamy

The goal against Palace was Son’s first goal since September and he spoke of the relief of finally finding the back of the net after a minor goal drought.

Son said: “It [the goal] was obviously like a weight off my shoulders going away. I’m grateful that first of all, we won the game. That’s the most important thing. It’s a really difficult place to get three points here, so I’m really happy to win this game.”