In the absence of talisman Harry Kane, Heung-min Son has impressed leading the Spurs front-line.
In a disappointing debut season in English football, Heung-min Son failed to adjust and acclimatise to the rigours of Premier League football, netting a paltry eight goals from 41 matches in all competitions.
After starting only 13 league games last campaign, an unhappy Son tried to force a move away from North London. The subsequent tension was only inflamed by the 24-year-old’s desire to represent South Korea at the Summer Olympic games in Rio, resulting in a minimal pre-season and his absence from the opening three league fixtures.
The will of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino eventually prevailed and Son was convinced that he was firmly in the Argentine’s plans.
Since his return to the UK, Son has been in scintillating form for his club and its appears his manager’s faith was not misplaced.
With Harry Kane, Tottenham’s top scorer from the previous two seasons, sidelined with an ankle injury, the former Bayer Leverkusen forward has been invaluable to his side and in Kane’s absence he has grasped the opportunity afforded to him with both hands.
Son has already equalled his Premier League tally from last term despite missing half of Spurs’ games. Since returning from the summer, he has been directly involved in six of the North London side’s nine goals, scoring five and assisting one.
With his influence growing and confidence widening, Son, who has scored five goals in as many games, attributes the apogee of his recent form to his involvement in the Olympics, even with the commotion it caused.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “For six months my head was there but after the Olympics I thought: ‘Now I have to focus on the season.”
Enjoying a purple patch, Son seems to be taken shouldering the goalscoring burden in his stride. His form has even extended to the Champions League, where he scored the only goal in Spurs’ 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night.
The South Korean is more than just a clinical finisher and has contributed the most dribbles of any Tottenham player in the league. His ease with the ball at his feet and tendency to dribble have suited his team’s counter-attacking nature.
Red-hot Son is primed and ready to resume his run of goal-scoring against Manchester City on Sunday.
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