Ange Postecoglou has offered a worrying update on Heung-min Son’s fitness, casting fresh doubt over the Tottenham captain’s availability for the crucial Europa League semi-final first leg.
Tottenham Hotspur were nothing but abysmal in their last Premier League outing against Liverpool on Sunday.
The Lilywhites suffered a gut-wrenching 5-1 defeat to Arne Slot’s side, just days before their Europa League tie on Thursday against Bodo/Glimt.
Ange Postecoglou will be hoping for a much better display from his side, as they look to take advantage of the home leg before making the tricky trip to Norway next week.
Ange Postecoglou delivers Heung-min Son injury update for Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt
Club captain Heung-min Son has missed the last three matches for Tottenham due to a foot injury and wasn’t involved in the heavy defeat at Anfield.
Ahead of the Liverpool clash, Postecoglou revealed Son had returned to training on Friday, though he made it clear that no decision would be made on his involvement against Bodo/Glimt until later in the week.
Now, the Australian has provided a further update, admitting that Son remains a major doubt. Speaking to BBC Sport, as relayed by The Standard, Postecoglou said: “It’ll be touch and go for Thursday. He’ll try hard. If he’s not ready for the first game, we think he’ll be ready for the second game.”
He added: “There’s a massive opportunity. We’ll put all our energies, efforts and focus into that, and try to push on to a European final.”
For all of Son’s inconsistencies this campaign, no other Spurs player has more goal contributions in all competitions than the Korean’s 22. He indeed would be a big miss should he miss out on Thursday.
Spurs’ form without Heung-min Son highlights his importance
In the League this season, Tottenham have lost five of the six games Heung-min Son has missed, winning just one. Two of those defeats came in their last two outings against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
They did, however, manage to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie – a game Son also missed.
But the margins are growing tighter, and they can’t afford to slip up against a Bodo/Glimt side with an impressive European home record.
Should the Korean miss out once more, then the likes of Mathys Tel, who have impressed in his absence, would have to step up for Postecoglou and co.