Antonio Conte has hinted during his pre-Sporting Lisbon press conference – as per Football London – that he could decide to rotate Son Heung-min as Tottenham prepare to face the Portuguese side on Tuesday night away from home.
Having secured a 2-0 win over French side Marseille, Spurs will be looking to secure their sixth win in eight games this season. They travel to Portugal to take on a side that finished second behind Porto in the Portuguese League last term.
However this season, Sporting have made an indifferent start, winning just three of six league games. They did, though, secure a 3-0 away win over German side Frankfurt last week. Marcus Edwards has three goals and three assists so far.
Son, meanwhile, is yet to open his account and has just one assist. Last season, Conte said it would be “crazy” to think about dropping the South Korean ace. Asked if he could rest Son, he says he must remove “old habits” to progress.
“When you try to build something important, something with ambition and try to be competitive and fight to win, you have to change old habits, otherwise it means you want to stay in balance and you don’t want to have ambition.”
Conte could rotate Son as Tottenham face Sporting
It might do Son some good. Clearly, the South Korean ace is lacking in a bit of confidence and going through a spell that all the best attackers go through. But he still has that game-changing ability, getting Chancel Mbemba sent off.
It changed the game last Wednesday. So, Son can still produce. But he just needs that first goal. However, taking him out of the firing line and giving Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski a run out on the wings could be what Son needs.
A chance to see things from a different angle. Then, bringing him onto the pitch for the last 30, against a weary defence, might just allow him to find the back of the net. It is something Conte should seriously consider.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
