South Korea head coach and Tottenham legend Jurgen Klinsmann has revealed that Son Heung-min will start on the bench for their friendly match against Peru on Friday since he is not yet 100 percent fit.
It was reported by Korea Herald earlier this week that Son was doubtful for the friendly against Peru after he was recovering from a recent sports hernia surgery.
Curiously, the publication revealed that the forward flew to his home country immediately after Spurs’ 4-1 victory against Leeds United on the final day of the season to undergo the operation.
That raised some suspicions over whether Son was playing through injury during the season, given that he looked well short of his best for much of the 2022-23 campaign.
Heung-min Son fitness update after surgery
Sure enough, Son himself confirmed that was the case in an interview with TV Chosun (as translated by journalist Steve Han) on Wednesday, revealing that he struggled with pain throughout the season and that the issue interfered with even basic movements like turning and passing.
Klinsmann has now confirmed that the South Korean captain is not fit enough to start against Peru but he insisted that the forward could play a part in the game with his country beginning their preparations for the Asian Cup in January 2024.
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The 58-year-old said at a press conference (via journalist Sungmo Lee): “Son is not 100%. He’ll be on the bench. As he’s getting better every day after returning to South Korea, so there’s hope that he can play tomorrow. But we need to check his condition.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Given that this is a pointless international friendly, there is no reason for Klinsmann to risk Son even if there is a small doubt about his fitness. However, the 30-year-old is the sort of character who would be chomping at the bit to play every single game.
I can see him coming on for a late 20-minute cameo against the South American side considering they also play El Salvador just four days later.
PSG know they are going to lose their star man one way or another and would surely rather get a big transfer now than see him leave for nothing.
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