'On fire' Son proving worth to Spurs given overdue opportunity

For fans and players alike, an international break can sometimes be incredibly frustrating, breaking up the rhythm of the domestic season. For others it can prove a godsend. Strangely both apply to Tottenham’s Heung-Min Son.

The South Korean has hit a purple patch having not had the opportunity to do so in an underwhelming debut season at White Hart Lane. Indeed, Spurs were believed to be open to offers in the summer for the forward they had signed just a year ago, with the deadline day arrival of Moussa Sissoko seemingly only serving to exacerbate matters for the former Bayer Leverkusen man.

Since the transfer window closed, however, the 24-year old has been in outstanding form, though to say he earned his place would be inaccurate in reality. Son would only start the game against Stoke following the international break at the start of the month due to the fact that Erik Lamela had not returned from South America until the day before kick-off.

The man they lovingly refer to as ‘Sonny’ in North London needed to take this rare chance to impress, and boy did he do just that. Two excellent finishes set the visitors on their way to a 4-0 win, providing the assist for Harry Kane to finish the scoring and earn a WhoScored.com man of the match rating of 9.26.

He would keep his place in the side against Monaco only to be replaced at half-time, and one would be forgiven for thinking that Son was again set to be harshly overlooked by Pochettino. After all, last season the previous summer signing would never start more than three matches in succession in all competitions for the Londoners, in turn never really given the chance to find his feet in English football.

Nevertheless, Son would again retain his place in the side for the visit of Sunderland, with another strong showing ensuring that this run of 5 consecutive starts is his longest in a Spurs shirt. With ample time to impress, he is winning over his manager and the fans, although it's worth noting that the supporters have stood by the popular character throughout his time at the club.

Hitting the woodwork with one of seven shots, creating five chances and completing four dribbles against the Black Cats, Son was in determined and confident mood despite failing to find the net. He would put that right with a match winning brace against Middlesbrough the following weekend, earning his first perfect WhoScored.com rating of 10 for Tottenham in the process. His second goal of the game epitomised all that is so refreshing about the player. Having seemingly lost control of the ball and the situation down the left, Son didn't let it deter him, instead harrying the Boro defence into a mistake to regain possession high up the pitch before firing a trademark right-footed effort into the far corner.

Arguably his most important goal for the club would follow, clinching all three points in Moscow in midweek. A draw would have left Spurs in a difficult position in a competitive group. A win instead leaves them well placed despite their disappointing opener at Wembley, with Leverkusen surrendering a lead late on in Monaco to ensure it’s all to play for everyone involved.

Son has actually developed a very handy knack of netting important goals for Spurs, despite a modest tally in total. A quickfire brace ensured the club avoided an embarrassing result at home to Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag this time last year, while Pocchetino’s men would have been 5 points worse off last season without goals against Palace, Watford and Chelsea.

His ability to score decisive goals will prove all the more important in the absence of Harry Kane, with Vincent Janssen yet to find his scoring touch, and must surely have convinced the manager of Son’s worth to this side. It is, after all, a wonder why the forward hasn’t been handed more chances in the past given his familiarity, from his time at Leverkusen, with the style of pressing football that Pocchetino encourages.

With a rating of 9.20 enough to rank first of all players in Europe’s top 5 leagues so far, Son is finally being given that chance to show that he is a good fit for this club and this league. The frustration now, having owed much to its occurrence less than a month ago to be able to stake his claim for a regular berth, is that the next international break could disrupt Son’s flow.

For the time being he is, as Pocchetino attests, ‘on fire’.

Should Son keep his place in the Spurs side when everyone is fit and available? Let us know in the comments below