Four-goal Son shines as striker shows he is not ready to Bale out

Son Heung-min showed that he has no intention of losing his shirt to Gareth Bale by firing four goals in Tottenham’s 5-2 win at Southampton. Harry Kane assisted all four goals then added one of his own, and the prospect of adding Bale to that front line will have Spurs fans licking their lips and leave Premier League defences with sleepless nights.

Spurs fell behind to a Danny Ings goal that showed exactly why Spurs are interested in signing the striker, but then it became the Son show.

Southampton completely capitulated after the break having been by far the better side in the first half and they have now lost all three of their games this season.

They went ahead in the 32nd minute. Former Spurs rightback Kyle Walker-Peters played in Ings, who fired a low shot past Hugo Lloris.

Spurs had been very poor, but went in level at half-time after Tanguy Ndombele cre - ated space in the middle of the park and he released Kane who squared to Son to finish brilliantly at the far post. Spurs scored again in the 47th minute when Kane was allowed to turn and played in Son who made no mistake and the hat-trick goal in the 64th minute was a virtual carbon copy. It happened again nine minutes later, almost in identical circumstances, as Kane’s curled cross found Son and another one-on-one was converted.

Kane deservedly got on the scoresheet when he rammed home a loose ball after Erik Lamela’s shot was turned on to the post.

Ings scored his second at the death with a penalty after Matt Doherty had handled.

SOUTHAMPTON: Mccarthy, WalkerPeters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Armstrong (Tella, 68), Ward-prowse, Romeu (Smallbone, 55), Djenepo, Adams (Long, 80), Ings. Subs not used: Vestergaard, Obafemi, Vokins, Forster.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Lloris, Doherty, D Sánchez, Dier, Davies, Højbjerg, Winks, Ndombele (Lo Celso, 45), Lucas Moura (Lamela, 61), Kane (Bergwijn, 84), Son.

Subs not used: Alderweireld, Hart, Sissoko, Aurier.