Eagled-eyed Tottenham Hotspur fans would’ve noticed one thing in particular when manager Mauricio Pochettino’s team sheet for the EFL Cup fourth round tie against West Ham United at the London Stadium was announced yesterday evening.
No, not the youngsters who finally got a call and came into the starting XI – Juan Foyth and Kyle Walker-Peters – nor the other youngsters who took their places on the substitutes bench.
Son Heung-Min’s selection for the game was his 150th club appearance.
🇰🇷 🌞 A 150th Spurs appearance for Sonny this evening! #COYS pic.twitter.com/96JpzCRECD
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 31, 2018
Having come in from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £18million back in late August 2015, the 26-year-old fan favourite has proven to be a snip at that price, and Wednesday evening’s clash was the South Korean’s 102nd Spurs start. 48 additional showings from the substitutes bench takes him to the 150 milestone mark and with 47 goals returned in that time, well, it’s easy to see why he’s so well liked.
Nice one sonny
Nice one son
Nice one sonny
Let's have another one— thomas spice (@spice2001) October 31, 2018
I love sonny ⌯’ ▾ ‘⌯ ???? pic.twitter.com/ucUt4btmke
— ????츄츄???? (@0708_8070) October 31, 2018
So proud Son ????????????????????????
— 단 (@Paik_97) October 31, 2018
korean excellence
— liz (@heungmintwt) October 31, 2018
coys
GOOD LUCK FOR SONNY— justsayfighting (@inspiritSONNY) October 31, 2018
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— Delldell (@Delldell9292) October 31, 2018
One of the beat acquisitions we ever made
— Droskii (@Droskii2651) October 31, 2018
I love this guy! ????????????????????????????????! Son is the ????
— Dan TheProneBear ???????? (@TheProneBear_) October 31, 2018
It’s not unfair to say his form has been in a dip in recent times, but most accept that’s a consequence of international duty and probably the pressure he felt given what was personally riding on success for his country.
Writing this ahead of the fulltime whistle, I’ll have to see if he can get back to his best and celebrate his 150th with a hattrick to take him to another club milestone.
Edit – two goals!