[서울신문] Even without Kane… Hands, saws become sharper

Ankle injury on both sides of Kane… Colon up to 6 weeks
One-top competition more powerful than backup Vinicius
On the front line during Kane’s injury in the past two years
Strike consecutive goals and stand tall as a team support

AP Yonhap News” style=”padding:0px;margin:0px”>

▲ Son Heung-min.
AP Yonhap News

Son Heung-min (29, Tottenham) lost his’best friend’ Harry Kane in an injury. It is noteworthy whether Kane’s absence can be made into’Son Heung-min’s time’.

On the 29th, Kane injured both ankles on two occasions in the English Premier League (EPL) game against Liverpool. In the second half of Kane’s absence, Tottenham’s forward pass was missing, and Son Heung-min was isolated from the front. Tottenham even lost a mistake in the defense and lost 1-3.

In the UK, it is predicted that Kane will miss at least 2 weeks and up to 6 weeks. The EPL, England Football Association (FA) Cup, and Europa League matches could be combined from 4 to 10 games. It is a big blow as Tottenham aiming to re-enter the fourth place in the European Champions League finalist, or as Son Heung-min, who dreams of a career high such as breaking the most goals in a season.

Tottenham are scoring 34 goals in the EPL this season, with Son Heung-min and Kane (more than 12 goals) playing 71%. When the two assists add up to 4 goals scored by the other player, the proportion increases to 82%. Son Heung-min also scored 9 out of 12 EPL goals with Kane’s help.

There is Vinicius as the existing one-top resource, but there is a high possibility that Son Heung-min will go to the forefront. Tangwi Ndombele and Giovanni Rosselso, who are returning from injuries sooner or later, should serve as a pass stem.

Fortunately, when Kane left for a long time earlier, Son Heung-min played the best role as a boy. Since January 2019, when Kane was absent due to an ankle injury for about a month, Son Heung-min was a supporter by scoring four consecutive goals after returning to the Asian Cup.

Even when Kane fell into a hamstring injury in January and February of last year, Son Heung-min scored five consecutive goals, the most in his career, including one multi-goal game, before leaving because of an arm fracture injury.

Meanwhile, Son Heung-min will challenge the 13th goal in the league with an away game against Brighton and Hove Albion in the early morning of the 1st. Tottenham, who was pushed to 6th place in the league after a complete defeat against Liverpool, aims to make a leap against Brighton.

Reporter Hong Ji-min [email protected]