Son Heung-min back training in London, sans mask

Football

Published: 15 Dec. 2022, 17:56 Updated: 15 Dec. 2022, 18:49

Son Heung-min back training in London, sans mask

Son Heung-min is training at the Hotspur Way Training Ground in Enfield, London, on Wednesday. He recommenced training with his Premier League club after leading the Korean national team as captain at the 2022 World Cup. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Son Heung-min is back training at Tottenham's Enfield base in London.

Tottenham posted a picture on their social media page Thursday of Son training without his carbon mask, saying that "Sonny is back" alongside a video of Son jogging with his Spurs teammate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Son training without his mask could be a green flag for the Spurs as they are scheduled to play a friendly against Ligue 1 side OGC Nice on Dec. 22 before they resume their club fixtures with a match against Brentford on Dec. 26, which will be their first Premier League match since the World Cup.

If Son does come back on the pitch for Tottenham, it will be the first time since Nov. 2 when he sustained an injury against Marseille.

Son had sustained one or multiple orbital fractures ahead of the World Cup during a Champions League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Marseille.

He underwent surgery on Nov. 4 and, despite worries that he would not be able to play at the World Cup, arrived in Qatar with a carbon mask that he wore for all four matches.

Despite the injury, Son served as captain of the Taeguk Warriors in Qatar, playing all of Korea’s matches at the World Cup.

Son assisted Hwang Hee-chan’s goal against Portugal in the final match of the group stage, advancing Korea into the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years. Although Korea lost to Brazil 4-1, Son and the Taeguk Warriors were able to come back home with their heads held high after defying all odds to reach the round of 16.

Son had jetted into Korea from Qatar on the afternoon of Dec. 7 after Korea ended their 2022 World Cup run with a 4-1 loss against Brazil in the round of 16. He now returns to London to resume playing in the Premier League.

During their time in Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol also invited Son and the national team and now former head coach Paulo Bento to a banquet at the presidential office to congratulate them on having reached the round of 16 and for their overall performance.

Son left Korea for London Tuesday after spending less than a week in Korea.

The Premier League has been on a midseason break for the World Cup. The World Cup will come to an end this Sunday with the final match between Argentina and France.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]