Son Heung-min still called up for Korea despite injury

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Son Heung-min still called up for Korea despite injury

Published: 30 Sep. 2024, 12:16 Updated: 30 Sep. 2024, 12:21

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Tottenham's Son Heung-min, right, vies for the ball with Qarabag's Julio Romao during a Europa League match in London on Sept. 26. [AP/YONHAP]

Injured Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min still received the Korean national team call on Monday ahead of the October international break, joining a squad that also sees the return of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, midfielder Bae Jun-jo and forward Oh Hyeon-gyu.

Son, who missed a Premier League fixture against Manchester United on Sunday due to an injury sustained in a Europa League match against Qarabag FK on Sept. 26, still made it onto the roster announced Monday.

It remains unclear whether he will be able to play the qualifiers against Jordan on Oct. 10 or Iraq on Oct. 15, as the extent of his injury has not been disclosed. Korean manager Hong Myung-bo said he has spoken to Son directly and will prioritize his long-term health when it comes to deciding whether he plays or not.

If he does play, Son will reunite with veteran goalkeeper Kim, who had been out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury since Korea’s Asian Cup run in January. Kim was the No. 1 national team pick until Ulsan HD goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-hoo replaced him during his absence.

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, left, trains with the Korean national team on Jan. 12 at Al-Egla training site in Doha, Qatar ahead of a group stage match against Bahrain. [NEWS1]

Jo is on the roster again alongside Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong.

KRC Genk striker Oh, meanwhile, returns to the national squad after a seven-month absence.

KRC Genk forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, right, celebrates scoring during a Belgian Pro League match against K.V. Mechelen at the Cegeka Arena in Genk, Belgium, on Saturday. [AFP/YONHAP]

He became a regular pick after joining Celtic in January 2023 and also made it onto the Asian Cup squad in January this year, but his name disappeared after the end of the tournament in February after failing to score a single goal during his nearly one-year stint with Korea.

But he has been in solid form since transferring to Genk this summer, picking up three goals in just two fixtures. He joins Ulsan HD forward Joo Min-kyu and Machida Zelvia forward Oh Se-hun in the lineup.

Over in the midfield, regular picks based in Europe like Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in, Feyenoord’s Hwang In-beom and Mainz’s Lee Jae-sung were all called up.

Stoke City midfielder Bae made it onto the roster after making his first two senior caps in June under then-interim manager Kim Do-hoon and failing to be picked by new manager Hong earlier this month.

Korea's Bae Jun-ho celebrates during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Singapore at Singapore National Stadium in Singapore on June 6. [YONHAP]

Birmingham City midfielder Paik Seung-ho also received his first call up under Hong after playing his last national team game in March.

Hibernian midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu, meanwhile, has been called up to the senior squad for the first time after establishing himself as a regular pick at Hibernian, which he joined on loan from fellow Scottish team Celtic.

Kwon Hyeok-kyu poses in a photo shared on Hibernian FC's official Instagram account on Aug. 13. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Al Ain midfielder Park Yong-woo is on the roster, but veteran midfielder Jung Woo-young did not make the cut. Swansea City’s Eom Ji-sung and Gimcheon Sangmu’s Lee Dong-gyeong complete the rest of the midfield lineup.

In defense, Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae joins the squad alongside Red Star Belgrade’s Seol Young-woo, FC Midtjylland’s Lee Han-beom, Gangwon FC’s Hwang Moon-gi, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo’s Park Min-gyu, Ulsan’s Lee Myung-jae, FC Seoul’s Kim Ju-sung, Sharjah FC’s Cho Yu-min and Al Wasl’s Jung Seung-hyun.

A notable absence is veteran defender Kim Young-gwon of Ulsan, who was called up for September qualifiers.

The Taeguk Warriors will jet off to face Jordan on Oct. 10 and play Iraq in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Oct. 15. Hong confirmed in Monday’s press conference that the decision to host the match in Yongin, outside of Seoul, came after players complained about the condition of the pitch at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Korea sit in second place on the six-team table in Group B of the third round of qualifiers where top two teams directly reach the 2026 World Cup.

Before the two qualifiers, however, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will announce Wednesday the results of its probe into allegations that KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng failed to follow proper procedure in the appointment of Hong.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]