Expert on Son Heung-min being axed from Tottenham XI after new hint
Noel Whelan has suggested Antonio Conte “has options” if he feels taking Son Heung-min out of the Tottenham side is for the best.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 30-year-old is still “working hard for his teammates” despite his early goal drought.
Son is yet to score in four games this season after winning the Premier League Golden Boot alongside Mohamed Salah with 23 goals in the 2021-22 campaign.
As quoted by football.london after Tottenham’s 2-0 away win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday (28 August), Antonio Conte claimed the forward is “suffering a lot” at present but will “always be a nut” in his side.
Brazil international Richarlison is waiting in the wings and Conte has confirmed he will “for sure” make his full debut for the club “in the next games”.
Tottenham face West Ham on Wednesday (31 August) before hosting Fulham on Saturday (3 September).
Whelan suggested the South Korea international could take some time to find his “rhythm and confidence”.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “Conte has got options, with a lot of games coming up.
“It’s not happened for Son this season. That doesn’t mean that he hasn’t put in the work rate or done a job for the team.
“I think people expect so much from him because of the player he is and the goals he has scored.
“We expect bigger things, but it doesn’t always happen – it can take time for players to find their rhythm and confidence.
“I’d be more worried if he wasn’t working hard for his teammates – but he is.”
In other news, expert backs Adama Traore to join Tottenham this week – “Paratici loves him”.