‘He has such a significant presence’: South Koreans sweat on Son’s fitness

South Korea forward’s status is such that a squad place in Qatar is likely even if not fit but his injury has heightened anxieties

EYE ISSUE: Son Heung-min.

Just as the English public became wearily familiar with the bone structures of the foot with metatarsal injuries to David Beckham before the 2002 World Cup and Wayne Rooney four years later, South Korean fans are learning all about facial fractures and eye sockets. 

Diagrams, X-rays and reports of how long it took other players with similar injuries to return are the order of the day as Son Heung-min recovers from surgery after his head collided with the shoulder of Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba while in action for Tottenham in the Champions League last week.