Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou won't let emotion influence Heung-min Son decision for Europa League final | OneFootball

Spurs boss faces tough selection call over captain against Manchester United after return from injury layoff

Ange Postecoglou says he will not let heart rule head when deciding whether to start Tottenham captain Heung-min Son in the Europa League final.

The South Korean is one of two members of the squad to have been part of Spurs' last European final, the 2019 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, and has not won a team trophy in a decade at the club.

Richarlison impressed from the left wing in both legs of Spurs' Europa League semi-final win over Bodo/Glimt, while Mathys Tel is also an option in Son's preferred position.

And Postecoglou says he will not allow the emotion of Son's situation to influence his decision over whether to play his captain from the start in Spain.

"It comes down to getting him ready to play and then making a decision," the head coach said. "It's nothing more than that.

"One thing I do know about finals is there are always moments and players who can change it. But it's going to take a collective effort, it's what we do as a team that will be much more important than individuals on the day.

"In terms of his fitness, he's progressing well," Postecoglou added on Son. "He played 25 to 30 minutes yesterday [against Palace], we should get him some game time against Villa on Friday.

"If he trains right through he should be in a good condition [for the final]. He's worked hard to get back with the medical team.

"It was a funny injury. There was no kind of pre-prescribed length of time, it was just how he felt and progressed. But he worked hard with the medical team. It was important he gets some game time so hopefully he kicks on now.

"It's important he got some minutes yesterday, he needed them. More for himself psychologically than anything else. He had a good [training] session today [Monday].

"He was never going to do the whole session because he played yesterday. He feels good so we've still got eight or nine days to go and a game on Friday where we can build him up. It's great to have him available.

"He's been a big catalyst this year. He understands better than most what a trophy would do for this football club and for him personally because he's had an unbelievable career here in which he's done just about everything.

"But the key bit, that silverware which every player craves, he knows how significant it would be for the club and him personally. So the fact that he's back available is good."

Son and Ben Davies are the only remaining players from Mauricio Pochettino's squad who lost limply to Liverpool in Madrid in another all-English European final six years ago.

"Ben and Sonny have been here a while and understand that the opportunities don't come along too often," added Postecoglou.

"It's not like you get in a final every year. The last one was six years ago. So when they do come along, you want to take that opportunity.

"You can't assume it will come next year or the year after. Both of them are good reference points for the other boys."