Glenn Hoddle has suggested that Son Heung-min could be the “spark” that helps Tottenham to overcome their deficit in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final clash with Ajax.
Spurs were convincingly beaten 1-0 by the Dutch side, but were missing a host of players, and never really looked like a threat on the front foot.
Club legend Hoddle believes, however, that the reintroduction of the South Korean, who missed last night through suspension, could make a world of difference.
Speaking on BT Sport, as quoted in the Express, he said: “The spark could be Son.
“I think [Lucas] Moura and Son over there, breaking on this Ajax team.
“If you get that away goal, Ajax have got it tonight, and they deserved it the way they opened the game up. For the first 30 minutes they were different class to Tottenham.
“But who’s to say when you go away from home you get a little bit more space, the home team can go and attack you, Spurs are capable with Moura and Son in the team to hit teams on the counter.”
OPINION
Spurs missed Son so, so much last night. From the first whistle it was evident that they lacked the direct, cutting edge that he brings to the side, and that left them looking really quite blunt in the final third. With Llorente playing up top due to the injury of Harry Kane, there was more than one occasion when the big Spaniard looked for the flick on and ultimately found nobody. Lucas Moura is a willing runner, but compared to Son, he lacks that killer instinct and blistering acceleration to get on the end of those knock-ons consistently. The Brazilian can still have a role to play in this tie, make no mistake, but it will be Son who really takes the second leg by the scruff of the neck and gives his side a faint opportunity of going to Amsterdam and turning this match around for the better.