Injured Heung-min Son included in South Korea’s squad for World Cup

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has been included in South Korea’s 26-man squad for the World Cup finals in Qatar despite injury concerns.

Son suffered a fractured eye socket while playing for Spurs in the Champions League earlier this month.

Head coach Paulo Bento included Son in his squad after the 30-year-old declared himself fit to feature for the Koreans.

South Korea will be making their 10th consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals.

SON HEUNG-MIN OPTIMISTIC

“We are in contact with him, with the Tottenham medical department. But about the exact time, the exact day he can train with the team we don’t have that information yet,” Bento told reporters after unveiling his squad on Saturday.

“So we need to wait, we need to analyse day-by-day his situation. We have time to decide and the most important is he recovers as well as possible. He feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision.”

Son, who underwent an operation to repair the injury, has said he would wear a protective mask to play in Qatar if required.

SOUTH KOREA 26-MAN SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP

Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Motors)

Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Motors), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Citizen)

Midfielders: Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk Motors), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Real Mallorca)

Forwards: Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)