LONDON — Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea can work collaboratively to make sure Son Heung-Min‘s long-term health however recognises that, finally, the attacker’s worldwide workload is the area of his nation’s coach.
Arriving again in London within the early hours of Friday morning after struggling a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray, Spurs will host Ipswich City within the Premier League on Sunday, their final sport earlier than Son hyperlinks up with South Korea for World Cup qualifiers towards Kuwait and Palestine.
With the star attacker nonetheless working to full health, Hong Myung-Bo, who was named Jurgen Klinsmann’s everlasting alternative as coach of South Korea in July, has vowed to “defend his well being,” throughout the coming worldwide window.
“I do not assume it is acceptable for us to push him exhausting on the nationwide group simply because he has returned to motion for his membership,” mentioned Hong.
“I clearly perceive he desires to play for the nationwide group however firstly we now have to guard his well being.”
Postecoglou, for his half, has taken a cautious strategy to reintroducing his skipper to motion and is hopeful that each membership and nation can work collectively to optimise the talisman’s performances for each.
“I am reticent to become involved with nationwide group managers and their plans,” Postecoglou instructed ESPN. “I definitely did not respect it once I was [Australia’s] boss if membership coaches instructed me how one can deal with issues.
“However you’d wish to assume there is a collaborative strategy there; that they are what he is been by way of in current instances for each us and for the nationwide group. We wish a wholesome Sonny, someone who’s feeling good bodily so he can contribute.
“I believe inside that type of context. I am certain that each of us will get a constructive end result.”
After lacking a number of video games for Spurs in addition to Korea’s wins over Jordan and Iraq, Son re-aggravated a hamstring harm upon his return in a 4-1 win over West Ham final month, a setback that triggered him to overlook an extra three fixtures.
Returning towards Aston Villa final week, he performed 56 minutes earlier than being subbed off in his aspect’s 4-1 win and got here off at half-time of the loss in Istanbul on Thursday.
“He had the harm, we introduced him again and within the first sport again he had a relapse,” Postecoglou instructed media at a information convention on Friday.
“We do not need to put him into that cycle, it’s extremely simple to fall into it by pushing gamers notably after they’re getting back from harm. We’re managing his minutes and constructing him up.
“It is about ensuring we get him again and maintain him again. We will not afford extra accidents in that place. We have already obtained Wilson [Odobert] with a long-term harm, [Richarlison] with a long-term harm, and Mikey [Moore] out now.”
