RISING SON HAS SPURS ON THE UP
Deciding to stay at Lane was smart Korea move
Son HEUNG-MIN is as keen as any Tottenham player to leave the past in its rightful place and focus on the present. Son, the South Korean forward, asked his manager if he could quit White Hart Lane just last month, after struggling to adapt to the demands — physical, emotional and cultural — of playing in the Premier League following a £22million move from Bayer Leverkusen the previous August.
However, with the length of absence of injured Harry Kane to be established this week while his teammates are on European duty, the 24-year-old took the opportunity to show Mauricio Pochettino’s squad possesses the strength in depth to maintain a second title challenge in a row.
Two predatory finishes in the first half at the Riverside moved Tottenham up to second, and made it the club’s best start to a league season in 51 years. From a personal perspective, his four-goal tally since returning from international duty in Brazil matches his return for the entire 2015-16 campaign.
It has followed a heart-to-heart between Pochettino and Son.
‘He asked to leave after the olympic Games but I didn’t want him to go,’ revealed Pochettino, whose side face CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.
‘You can see his reaction has been good. He struggled to settle but he’s working very hard.
‘If you work hard in football and have patience, you can pay back and in this case the last few games he is scoring, which is good for him, and good for us.
‘I’m not surprised. When you sign a player you expect him to do well and you believe in him. Sometimes they are good and sometimes because of a different situation they need more time to settle, but I never doubted his quality.’
Son — whose second, an instinctive shot on the turn, left Spurs in total command — added: ‘The gaffer gave me a chance and I am very grateful to him, he has given me this chance to play. I am very happy now. He was very honest with me.’
Tottenham terrorised Boro’s defence in the first half, leading to a flashpoint between goalkeeper Victor Valdes and midfielder Adam Clayton in which foreheads touched. Ben Gibson, whose 65th-minute header provided hope of a late rally, separated them.
‘It shows people care. I would rather have that than nobody caring if I am honest. Choice words, people arguing … I don’t mind that,’ said Gibson.
‘It is better to have that than people walking off without a word to each other, albeit it should be happening in a more controlled environment.’
SUPER STAT: Son has had a hand in seven goals (six goals, one assist) in his last six league appearances for Spurs.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Valdes 6; Barragan 5, Chambers 6, Gibson 6, Friend 5; De Roon 6, Clayton 6 (Forshaw 82min); Stuani 5, Ramirez 4 (Traore 59, 7), Downing 7; Negredo 6 (Rhodes 59, 6). Subs not used: Guzan, Ayala, Fischer, Nsue. Booked: Friend, Traore. Scorer: Gibson 65.
TOTTENHAM (4-1-4-1): Lloris 6; Walker 7, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 7, Davies 6; Wanyama 6; Sissoko 6 (Lamela 69, 6), Alli 7, Eriksen 7 (Nkoudou 89), Son 8; Janssen 6 (Winks 86). Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers. Booked: Walker.
Scorer: Son 7, 23. Man of the match: Son Heung-min. Referee: Graham Scott 7.