Tottenham captain Son Heung-min 'unlikely' for Crystal Palace

Son Heung-min is unlikely to feature when Tottenham Hotspur face Crystal Palace this weekend.

The Spurs captain made his return from a hamstring injury in the win over West Ham United last weekend but was absent from training this week and missed Thursday’s Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar.

He missed three games in all competitions after suffering the injury in the Europa League win over Qarabag in September and was not part of South Korea’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Jordan earlier this month.

Ange Postecoglou revealed on Friday the 32-year-old isn’t yet back to full fitness and isn’t expected be part of Sunday’s game at Selhurst Park.

“(He’s) still not right,” he said. “He’s still not feeling 100 per cent. He won’t train today so he’s unlikely for the weekend.”

Son has made eight appearances in all competitions for Tottenham this season, scoring three goals and adding two assists.

There is better news on Djed Spence, however, with Postecoglou confirming the full-back could soon return from a groin problem.

“He’s getting closer,” he said. “Hopefully next week he’ll be joining up with training.”

Spurs — seventh in the Premier League — head to Palace having lost just one of their last eight matches in all competitions.

They follow the trip to south London by hosting Manchester City in the Carabao Cup last 16 on Wednesday.

(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

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Charlie Eccleshare is a tennis writer for The Athletic, having previously covered soccer as the Tottenham Hotspur correspondent for five years. He joined in 2019 after five years writing about football and tennis at The Telegraph. Follow Charlie on Twitter @cdeccleshare