Son returns from injury as Spurs beat Brighton 3-1

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min in action during an FA Cup fourth round match against Brighton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Son Heung-min returned from injury on Saturday, playing 69 minutes of Tottenham Hotspur's 3-1 FA Cup win over Brighton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Son's return comes a month after he last appeared for the London club in a Carabao Cup game against Chelsea on Jan. 5. The Korean striker wasn't visibly injured during that game, but began to feel uncomfortable after the match and was ultimately sidelined with a muscle injury.

Son wasn't directly involved in any of the three goals in his first game back on Saturday, with Kane scoring two and the third recorded as a Brighton own goal.

The Korean striker had a solid run in 66th minute, only to be stopped by a defender at the last moment. Kane picked up the deflection and knocked it home for his final goal of the game.

Saturday's result continues Spurs' run of good form since Antonio Conte took the helm in November. Since the Italian manager took control, Spurs have only dropped a handful of games — three of them against Chelsea — and have quickly become a far more impressive attacking force. Son has been a big part of that offensive and his return on Saturday immediately had the team looking sharper.

Son returned to Spurs immediately after the international break, during which he was unable to play for Korea because he was still injured.

Despite the absence of the talismanic captain, Korea won both of their qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup — 1-0 against Lebanon and 2-0 against Syria — to secure a spot at the tournament in November with two games still to play.

Son was not the only key member of the national team to miss the games, with Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan also out of action. Korean head coach Paulo Bento will be watching both players' form closely ahead of the next international break at the end of March.

Tottenham will be back in action in the Premier League with a game against Southampton on Wednesday evening, or early on Thursday morning in Korea.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]