Local sentiment is leaning toward Son Heung-min (Tottenham) returning from injury against Manchester City.
British media outlet Football London’s writers on Monday (Sept. 29) included the South Korean in their predicted best 11 against the Red Devils.
Tottenham will take on City in the round of 16 of the 2024-2025 Carabao Cup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Jan. 31 at 5:15 a.m. ET.
Earlier, Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou said of Son Heung-min after the match against Crystal Palace on Nov. 27: “Technically, it’s not a hamstring injury. But we are managing him conservatively because he hasn’t played recently and he hasn’t been in good shape since the last game. If everything goes well, he should be fine for next week,” he said very cautiously.
The ‘next week’ that Postecoglou spoke of has arrived. Spurs face Man City on Oct. 31 and Aston Villa on Nov. 3 in the 10th round of the Premier League.
“I think Heung-Min Son is recovering well,” Postecoglou said. Hopefully, he will be available for one of the two games (against Man City or Aston Villa).”
This means that he could return for the Aston Villa game at the latest, and if he recovers quickly, he could play against Man City.
The message was interpreted by Football Transfer Tavern as effectively hinting at Son’s return against City.
▶Rob Guest Predicted XI
Guglielmo Vicario-Pedro Foro-Radou Douglas-Dragusin-Micky Van der Vaart-Jed Spence-Rodrigo Bentancur-Pape Sarr-Dejan Kuluczewski-Brennan Johnson-Dominik Solanke-Son Heung-min
Rob Guest writes: “We usually see quite a bit of rotation in cup competitions, but facing City at home, Spurs will be as strong as possible. “This week’s cup competition is very important for Tottenham as they need to break the streak of irrelevance,” Guest explained.
“If Son Heung-min is in a position to return from injury, he should start alongside Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke to complete the trio,” Guest argued.
Guest also diagnosed the need for some changes from the Crystal Palace game.
“If Radu Dragucin and Jed Spence are ready, 메이저사이트 they should join Pedro Foro and Micky Vander Penn in the back line. Rodrigo Bentancur could also get a start.”
▶Sam Truelove’s top 11 predictions
Fraser Forster-Pedro Forro-Cristian Romero-Micky Vander Penne-Jed Spence-Pape Sarr-James Maddison-Dejan Kulusebski-Brennan Johnson-Dominik Solanke-Son Heung-min
Truelove added: “If Tottenham can knock City out of the Carabao Cup, they will have achieved a real achievement. Postecoglou needs to line up properly. The last game against Crystal Palace was a disaster, so he can make some changes to the lineup.”
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster and full-back Jed Spence stand out.
“If he’s fit, Spence deserves to start,” says Truelove. Destiny Udogie can be rested. The rest of the backline should start. Sarr’s energy will be needed against City. I hope our two creative players, Maddison and Kulusebski, will cause a lot of problems for the City defense.”
“If captain Son Heung-min is fit enough to start, it will give the team a big boost,” he added.
Tottenham Hotspur News also predicted Son’s return.
The outlet expects Dominic Solanke-Son Heung-min-Brennan Johnson to form a back three, with James Maddison-Dejan Kulicepski-Eves Bissouma in the middle. The back four would be Destiny Udogie-Micky Vander Penne-Christian Romero-Pedro Foro. Guglielmo Vicario would be in goal.
In fact, a full squad was expected. That’s how important the cup competition is for Tottenham. There are no changes from the last game against Crystal Palace, with Mikey Moore out and Son Heung-min in.
Son, meanwhile, was injured in the Europa League first leg against Qarabag FK last month. He limped off in the 26th minute of the second half with a thigh strain.
He was subsequently ruled out of Manchester United’s match against Manchester United in the sixth round of the Premier League, Ferencvarosi in the second round of the Europa League, and Brighton in the seventh round of the Premier League. He was also not called up to the squad for the third Asian qualifier for the 2026 North American World Cup.
Son made his return to the squad on Sept. 19 against West Ham in the eighth round of the Premier League. He was involved in three goals in the 4-1 win, but was substituted after 70 minutes. After the game, he felt pain again and didn’t train.
He then missed the Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar and the Premier League match against Crystal Palace in the ninth round.