Football

Son Heung-min's inclusion in the South Korean squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers has sparked concerns over his fitness, with coach Hong Myung-bo vowing to prioritize the Tottenham Hotspur star's health.Son missed several weeks of action with a hamstring injury and was substituted off in Tottenham's recent 4-1 victory over Aston Villa as a precautionary measure. Despite his return to action, Hong emphasized the need to manage Son's playing time carefully."We will monitor his playing time in the next two matches for Spurs and use that information to prepare for the November games," Hong said. "It's not appropriate to push him too hard on the national team just because he's back for his club."Hong acknowledged Son's desire to represent his country but stressed the importance of protecting his well-being. "I understand he wants to play for the national team, but our priority is his health," Hong added.South Korea currently leads their group in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, with three wins and a draw. Son's inclusion in the squad for the upcoming matches against Kuwait and Palestine is a testament to his importance to the team.However, Hong's cautious approach suggests that Son's playing time may be limited in these qualifiers. The coach's decision is likely influenced by the fact that Son has a history of hamstring injuries and is approaching the latter stages of his career.By managing Son's workload, Hong aims to ensure that the forward remains fit and available for both Tottenham and South Korea in the long run.

Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their Europa League campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Qarabag FK, despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the match. However, the triumph was marred by an injury scare involving star forward Son Heung-min.Radu Dragusin's early dismissal for a reckless challenge on Juninho left Tottenham shorthanded, but Ange Postecoglou's side remained unfazed. Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Qarabag.Pape Sarr doubled Tottenham's lead in the 52nd minute with a clinical volley, and Dominic Solanke sealed the victory in the 68th minute. Qarabag had a chance to pull one back from the penalty spot, but Toral Bayramov's effort sailed over the bar.Despite the comfortable win, Postecoglou expressed concern over Son's injury, which forced the South Korean off in the 70th minute. "He said he was a bit tired, but I haven't spoken to him or the medical staff yet," Postecoglou said.The Europa League could provide Tottenham with a path to silverware this season, as Postecoglou aims to end the club's trophy drought dating back to 2008. However, sterner tests await the north Londoners, who will need to maintain their composure and resilience in the face of adversity.Meanwhile, Roma's Europa League campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao. Artem Dovbyk gave Roma the lead in the first half, but Aitor Paredes' late equalizer denied the Italian side a victory.Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce enjoyed a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise, with Caglar Soyuncu and Christian Burgess scoring the goals. Ajax thrashed Besiktas 4-0, while Olympiakos suffered a 2-0 defeat at Lyon. Rangers secured a 2-0 victory at Malmo.