AliousSon Heung-min, the star forward for the South Korean national team and Tottenham Hotspur, has been ruled out of participating in the two upcoming international matches (A matches) scheduled for October due to a hamstring injury. This decision was officially announced by the Korea Football Association on Friday, citing the need for player protection and rest.
Initially, Korea national football team Director Hong Myung-bo had included Son in the list of 26 players selected for the October A matches, which was announced on Monday. However, after further assessment and communication with the player, the decision was made to exclude Son from the roster. Director Hong explained the initial inclusion, saying, “I communicated directly with Son Heung-min, and he informed me that while he is not currently in a condition to play, he feels his injury is gradually improving. Based on this information, I initially included him in the list.”
The decision to withdraw Son from the squad was made with careful consideration for his physical condition and long-term well-being. The Korea Football Association stated, “We have decided to exclude Son Heung-min from the October call-up for the sake of player protection, as we felt that he needs rest due to his left thigh injury.”
To fill the void left by Son’s absence, Director Hong has called up Hong Hyun-seok, who plays for Mainz in the German Bundesliga, as a replacement. This selection demonstrates the depth of talent available to the Korean national team and Hong’s foresight in considering potential replacements for key players.
Addressing concerns about the team’s performance without their talismanic forward, Director Hong expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to adapt. He stated, “I cannot guarantee what impact Son Heung-min’s absence will have, but we have players such as Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-seong, and Bae Jun-ho who can step up and fill his role.” This statement highlights the team’s depth and the coach’s faith in the abilities of other squad members to compensate for Son’s absence.
The decision to rest Son for these international fixtures underscores the delicate balance national teams must strike between fielding their strongest lineup and ensuring the long-term health and availability of key players, especially those who play for top clubs in demanding European leagues. It also reflects the collaborative approach between national teams and clubs in managing player workloads and injury recovery.
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