Jamie O’Hara has claimed that Son Heung-min was ‘average’ during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The former midfielder added that Son looks ‘off the pace’ and he is surprised that he seems to also have ‘lost belief and confidence’ in his game.
After winning the Golden Boot last season, Son’s form has fallen off a cliff and he is yet to get off the mark during this campaign.
Against Sporting, he was substituted off by Antonio Conte after 72 minutes for Dejan Kulusevski – that’s the sixth time that has already happened to him this term.
Things didn’t exactly get better for the north London club when Son made way because Paulinho scored within minutes left on the clock, before Arthur Gomes’ stunning solo goal topped off a brilliant night for the home side.
That’s Tottenham’s first defeat of the new season, as O’Hara had this to say about Son’s performance, as he told Sky Sports News.
“He has been average,” said O’Hara. “A little bit off the pace. It looks like he has lost a little bit of belief and confidence, which is surprising really.
“The link-up between Kane and Son has just always been so great. And it kind of doesn’t seem to be there, at the minute.
“Maybe they are just off it together. Maybe it’s because Richarlison has come into the team now and Kane is looking at somebody else to put in, as well as Kulusevski, then, all of a sudden, your brain doesn’t instantly think ‘where is Son?’.
“But it will come and I am not worried about Son.”
SON’S FORM A WORRY?
At one point does Conte consider dropping his £22 million star (Guardian)? There’s no doubt that the South Korean star has enough credit in his bank for what he has done.
But there are certain players behind him, knocking on the door and itching to start, not only because they want to, but because their performances dictate that they should.
Therefore, come Spurs’ weekend clash against bottom-of-the-table Leicester City on Saturday, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if Son is dropped.
Perhaps that’s what the player needs because he needs to find that spark once more, and when he does that, then he will be back to his best.
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