Tottenham Hotspur have a huge game next up in the Premier League. Ange Postecoglou's side will travel to Stamford Bridge to face London rivals Chelsea on Thursday. The Lilywhites have now gone three games without a win in the top flight but will be looking to turn things around in midweek.
Indeed, Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for the North Londoners. In the entire Premier League era, they have won just one game away to Chelsea, drawing 11 and losing 20.
One of the men imperative to turn that run around will be captain Son Heung-min.
What Son has said about his Spurs performances
It has been a mixed bag of a season for Lilywhites captain Son. The experienced 32-year-old has not necessarily been the first choice option on the left wing for Postecoglou, playing 40 games and 2834 minutes, the equivalent of 31 full 90-minute games.
In that time, his numbers are certainly not unimpressive. He’s scored 11 times and grabbed 12 assists, mainly from the left wing. With that being said, he hasn’t hit the heights of previous seasons, perhaps due to fewer minutes across the campaign.
One of Son’s biggest contributions in a single game this term came against the bottom of the Premier League side, Southampton. In a 5-0 thrashing of the Saints away from home, the Spurs number seven scored one and assisted two.
In the last few weeks, the South Korea international has perhaps shown an issue with the amount of game time he is getting under Postecoglou. In a recent interview, the Spurs skipper said, “I'm in excellent physical condition” and explained, “my club manager made those decisions to create better situations”, seemingly referring to his lack of game time.
Son was not selected from the start for Spurs’ last game against Fulham, a 2-0 defeat. However, he has three goals in the past against Chelsea and could hurt the Blues by running in behind their high line.
In fact, there is one player in particular who could help get him firing at Stamford Bridge.
The Spurs player who can get the best out of Son
Postecoglou is not short of creative options in midfield. Dejan Kulusevski has become a deadly player from central areas, and young Lucas Bergvall has also impressed. However, one man who could have a real impact playing just behind Son is James Maddison.
It has been a largely profitable season for Spurs' number ten. He’s played 38 times across competitions, scoring 11 goals and grabbing seven assists, with 14 of those goal involvements coming in the Premier League.
Son and Maddison have a strong history of linking up well with each other. In 59 games together, they have combined for nine goals, with Maddison only linking up with three players more.
That included one goal combination against Hoffenheim in the Europa League group stage, where Maddison grabbed a goal and assist, and Son scored twice.
Not only that, but the England internationals’ creative numbers via FBref from the Premier League this season compared to other midfielders are exemplary.
For example, he averages 8.27 progressive passes and 0.94 shot-creating actions per game, ranking him in the top 5% and 2%, respectively.
The England international could be considered in the “same category” as former Spurs star Harry Kane. At least, that’s what Son himself once said, and he knows a thing or two about playing with the England captain. They combined for 54 goals in a Spurs shirt.
Maddison can certainly replicate what Kane did at Spurs with Son; picking the ball up in deeper zones and playing him in behind the opposition defence. This could certainly work well against Chelsea on Thursday.
There is certainly lots of evidence to suggest that the former Leicester City star would be ideal to start in midfield against Chelsea.
If Postecoglou is looking to help get Son firing, the starting Maddison, a progressive and creative player who has linked up well with the Spurs skipper in the past.