The real reason why Ange Postecoglou is hiding Son Heung-min injury return | OneFootball

Tottenham superstar Son Heung-min has seen his stock fall harder than any other player on the team in the calendar year 2025. Son has scored just two Premier League goals this year, falling off hard after what was actually a decent enough start to the 2024/25 campaign.

Unsurprisingly, Son's decline in performance has coincided with Spurs own tumble into full-on demise, and while it's hard to say which caused which, there's no question that Son hasn't been getting the job done over the last several months.

Lately, he hasn't even been playing at all due to an apparent foot injury that is without a concrete diagnosis but has held him out since Apr. 11 when he was anonymous in a 1-1 first leg draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. Cynically, because there is no concrete description of the exact nature of Son's injury, it makes you wonder if Tottenham are using the sudden injury as a reason to protect their most high-profile player and their biggest underperformer.

Son Heung-min is uncertain for the Europa League

Ahead of Sunday's big match against Liverpool, who can seal their Premier League title, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou told reporters, via The Spurs Express, that Son Heung-min will indeed miss the match against the Reds. That isn't a surprise, but the Spurs coach also stated simply that "We'll see" if the South Korean icon is ready to play in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals against underdogs Bodo Glimt.

Tottenham don't play Bodo Glimt until next Thursday, May 1, so that should be plenty of time for Son to return from what seems like a minor, nagging injury that didn't keep him out of that Eintracht game a couple of weeks ago. Son, per Postecoglou, is able to train well on the grass without any issues, so you'd think he'd be back next week.

And maybe he will be. But the fact that the Tottenham manager keeps playing coy on Son's status and the sudden nature of his absence makes me wonder if the real reason for all this theater is the simple fact that Spurs don't know what they want to do with Son in the future.

Tottenham are protecting Son from Mathys Tel conversation

Mathys Tel has outperformed Son since coming into the starting lineup in the Premier League legend's recent absence. He created a handful of chances against Nottingham Forest and was positive in the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals. Tel is younger with higher upside than Son, who could be sold to Saudi Arabia for 50 million euros. And right now, Tel is playing better than Son, so there is no rush to bring him back.

Using a delayed injury return could be Spurs way of protecting Son from further fan criticism and scrutiny, as well as leave the door open for him taking back his job. Right now, this looks like a benching, and Tottenham just aren't saying it out loud. They are giving Tel a chance to shine and make a permanent move to Tottenham so that Son avoids the heat while Tel gets the praise. And if Tel flounders, then Spurs will go back to Son and simply state that Tel didn't grab the proverbial brass ring.