Antonio Conte is backing struggling Son Heung-min to rediscover his goal-scoring touch but admits he has ‘struggled’ for form since suffering a fractured eye socket ahead of the World Cup
- Antonio Conte wants to see Son Heung-min return to his best for Tottenham
- The South Korean have struggled to find the same goal-scoring form as of last term
- Anak suffered a facial fracture in November but featured in the World Cup
- Conte called Son one of the club’s most important players alongside Kane and Lloris
Antonio Conte admits Tottenham need Son Heung-min at his best but there is no doubt about his return to form.
The forward has five goals for Spurs this season, but they have come in two games meaning the South Korean has failed to score in 19 club fixtures in the current campaign.
Son suffered a facial fracture before the World Cup and despite recovering in time to feature in Qatar, he failed to find the net in the tournament and Conte knew he was struggling.
Antonio Conte admits he needs to get Son Heung-min back to his best for Spurs
So far, the South Korean has failed to find the same kind of goal-scoring form as last season
Ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Crystal Palace, the Italian spoke of the importance of last season’s joint-Premier League Golden Boot winner.
Conte said: “Son for sure is trying to find the best form. After the injury he had against Marseille he struggled a bit and also in the World Cup he did not score.
“But we are talking about a player that if we put him in this discussion, we are in trouble, because Sonny and Kane are the two most important players to Hugo Lloris.
Conte hailed Son along with Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris as the clubs most important players
“If we start discussing them or having doubts about them, I think we’re really in trouble.
“For sure a team like us we need in every game, injuries or no injuries, the most important players to give their best, but you know in a season in 60 games you can’t play every game at the top of your form. and make a change. This is normal.
“But for sure we are talking about three players in Sonny, Kane and Hugo, who can make the difference. Our expectations are always very high for them. I think their commitment, their will, their desire is always the same. They know the their role in the squad.”
Spurs will be without a number of key players for the clash in south London with Yves Bissouma suspended, Rodrigo Bentancur still out with a hamstring issue and Richarlison also sidelined.
Tottenham will be looking to bounce back against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night after their 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday
Dejan Kulusevski will be tested but will be out at 50-50 due to a minor muscle injury that kept him out of Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
Conte spoke at length about Tottenham’s project and expectations following their defeat at home at the weekend but was critical of reports suggesting he was telling the club to be active in the January transfer window.
He insisted: “I didn’t suggest anything. This is the difference. I understand that my English might not be that good and you might not understand which is my thought. I didn’t suggest anything.
Conte insisted he was not suggesting the club needed to invest in the January transfer window
“I just said what we are doing, which is the project, which is the program. But I didn’t suggest anything.”
Pushed on whether he was still happy at Tottenham and committed to the project, Conte fell back on his knowledge of English.
“Yes, I’m happy but that doesn’t mean I can’t tell you what we’re doing. We’re trying to create a base foundation,” he said.
“Sometimes I go to my house and yeah, I think for sure I have to study much more English because I am not good at transferring my thoughts to you.”
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