Harry can warm to a forecast of Son-shine

By

Tom Hopkinson

HEUNG-MIN SON reckons he and his team-mates have to shoulder their share of the blame for Harry Kane’s lack of potency so far this season.

Kane has managed just one goal in 13 Premier League outings since failing in his bid to leave Tottenham for Manchester City in the summer.

That is in stark contrast to the 10 he scored in the same number of games at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

His solitary top-flight goal this term came in the 3-2 win at relegationthreatened Newcastle.

But strike partner Son (right with Kane) is adamant that getting his pal scoring again is a collective responsibility.

Son has scored six Premier League goals, including one in each of Tottenham’s last two games.

Asked what new boss Antonio Conte was doing to try to get their partnership firing again, he said: “It’s not just myself and Harry that are important.

Advice

“It’s really important that we all create chances for him as well. It’s not all his fault because we could create more chances for him as a team.

“The gaffer is working on it and we are working too as players. When a striker doesn’t score, the team feels we should create more for him.

“I always believe in H... that he can score a goal in any moment from any position.

“The gaffer is helping all the players, not just me and Harry, and all the players are really open to taking the lessons and the advice.

“He gives us details of where to be, where to go, where to pass the ball, and these details give us even more quality.

“Players who play in the Premier League have quality but he brings more that we can use on the pitch and I’m really grateful – so lucky having this coach around me to bring that.”

Curse

Spurs have not played since beating Norwich 3-0 a fortnight ago, first watching their clash with Burnley at Turf Moor postponed because of snow and then seeing the curse of Covid make matches against Brighton and Leicester go the same way.

Son added: “We would prefer to be playing but as players we don’t have options, we just have to follow the rules and keep preparing as a team.

“We don’t have two weeks off. One game is cancelled so we have to prepare for the next one. We need to be really strong in our minds to get ready every three days but it’s something we have done quite well.” Today, Spurs face a tough test at home to Liverpool – looking for a first win over the Reds since October 2017, in which time they have drawn one game and lost seven.

Son said: “They are in a great moment and watching Liverpool, as a football fan, is enjoyable. It is a great team but in football you never know in the 90 minutes what will happen if you prepare well and win all the details.

“There is a great chance to win this game because it is our home and we have had time to prepare. Liverpool had a game on Thursday.

“The players are fit and fresh, so it will be a great game.”