Identifying Heung-Min Son's Areas of Improvement at Tottenham

By the time you read this there may be a clearer idea of when Tottenham Hotspur's Heung-Min Son will be available for selection again. The attacker suffered a foot injury during the 4-1 win over Manchester City and missed the next two matches prior to the international break.

The north London club have not released an update on Son's status since the initial problem was confirmed on 30 September.

Pleasingly for supporters, Premier League fitness website PhysioRoom.com reports the player's absence will not last too much longer:

Tottenham have missed the South Korea international in his absence, such has been the almost-immediate improvement he has brought to his new team's attacking play.

Son's debut away at Sunderland was naturally in large part about getting a feel for Premier League football. An idea of his team-mates' traits and their responses in a variety of competitive situations.

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Withdrawn shortly after the hour mark, there had been some tantalising glimpses of Son's quick-footed directness. A couple of ambitious shots and some tidy passing after creating space by skipping past Sunderland challenges.

It was, however, to be a day when Spurs had to be patient, and, ultimately, substitutes Erik Lamela and Andros Townsend joined Harry Kane and Ryan Mason in seeing off the tiring Black Cats.

Son requiring more time to settle in would have been understandable. Happily for him and Spurs, that initial appearance in the north-east was to be sufficient in familiarising himself with his new set-up.

Leading the attack four days later in his White Hart Lane bow, the 23-year-old scored twice in a 3-1 Europa League win over Qarabag.

For Son's second goal he picked out Dele Alli's penalty-box run and then correctly anticipated him looking to make the return pass. The attacking midfielder was one of those retained from the starting lineup against Sunderland.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino will have been pleased to see an early understanding developing between Son and his new colleagues, in this case a fellow recent recruit.

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Son followed up the Europa League brace with a winning goal against Crystal Palace that created further optimism Spurs have acquired a legitimate additional source of goals to main striker Kane (backed up by his healthy tally of 49 during his spells at Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen).

Just as encouraging in that game, and the following league win over Manchester City, were the further examples of Son's adaptability and versatility.

Back in attacking midfield, at various points Son played with Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen, Kane and Lamela. He looked comfortable linking up and working with them all, and was no less threatening deployed from a slightly deeper starting position.

"Son is a player that we followed a long time," Pochettino said after the Palace win, going on to emphasise, "He is a player who can play with Harry [Kane], No. 9, No. 10, seven, 11, all different positions."

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To be able to call on a forward capable of contributing from wide, centrally and up top should continue to improve an attack that has had issues with predictability in the last year. Without him against both Monaco and Swansea City, it was notable Spurs' play was much more staid, only occasionally coming to life.

In his post-Palace press conference, Pochettino also highlighted the South Korean's suitability to Spurs' pressing game, and the energy and high tempo that inform it. Those attributes extend to a directness and daring that should not only see him thrive individually, but also bring more out of others.

Son's willingness to run at defenders and get beyond them, his imaginative movement, prompt passing and an impressive all-round work ethic, all combine to make him a near-constant option for those around him. One that not only means an extra player to occupy the opposition, but also someone who can ensure the interchange-heavy flexibility his boss desires for his attack does not give way to listlessness and meandering play.

Unsurprisingly, he is already someone the likes of Chadli and Eriksen are looking to connect with on the pitch.

It was tougher going against Manchester City than Palace (just two shots and two take-on attempts compared to the five and seven respectively in his more influential showing in the earlier fixture, per Squawka). Yet Son still performed with the same team-enhancing enthusiasm and combativeness. Pitching in where he could, even if opportunities in and around the penalty area were not so forthcoming.

Speaking to Tottenham's website after his transfer, the player detailed some key elements of his style:

"

In the Premier League there are a lot of good players so I have to really work hard and be prepared to show my ability. I like to play a passing game and prefer to work with offensive players who are dominant and can scare the opponents. I am right footed, but I’ve trained with both feet so I can use them freely. Bold and daring—this is how I like to try to play.

"

Son declared his intentions right from the start, and so far he has backed them up. Should he continue to do so when fit again, Tottenham will only continue to benefit.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.