Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura started Tottenham Hotspur’s win against Bournemouth, whilst Erik Lamela was on the bench.
Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson believes Tottenham duo Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura don’t have the ability to replace the departing Heung-min Son in January.
The high-flying attacker, who has scored four goals in his previous two league matches, will be on international duty with South Korea next month to participate in the Asian games.
As posted on the official Asian Cup website, the tournament begins on January 5 and will end at the start of February – though it is not yet known when Son will leave for duty.
Speaking prior to Spurs’ thumping 5-0 win against Bournemouth on Boxing Day, Thompson questioned whether Lamela and Moura have the ability to replace Son as he explained his reasons behind this.
“Not exactly [have the players to replace him],” Thompson told Sky Sports’ Soccer Special programme on 26/12/2018 at 1:05 pm “I think you have seen it because that is what we have said over these last couple of years, the sort of starting XI, 12 or 13 are as good as anything. But it’s beyond that.
“I think you see that by them coming in – Lamela, he only seems as though he is now like an impact player. He [Son] is so good on either side [left foot and right foot], but he also brings great pace. We thought Lucas Moura would bring that side to it, but he doesn’t have the technical ability of Son. I think he could be a big miss.”
Over the course of the season, Son has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 14 league matches, with his form picking up serious speed in recent weeks.
In his last eight encounters in all competitions, he has found the back of the net on eight occasions, supplying three assists along the way.
For attacking duo Moura and Lamela, they have netted ten league goals between themselves this season added with two assists.
Moura found the back of the net on Boxing Day when Pochettino’s side put five past Bournemouth to go second in the Premier League table.
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