Tottenham 2-0 West Ham: Son Heung-min proves point after being dropped to bench

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Harry Kane and Son Heung-min observe a extremity for Tottenham against West Ham

If Son Heung-min wanted to marque a constituent aft losing his spot successful the Tottenham starting line-up, it took him lone 5 minutes to bash so.

He came connected successful the 67th minute, replacing Richarlison - the antheral who started alternatively of him - and successful the 72nd infinitesimal it was concern arsenic normal.

Harry Kane and Son, statistically the astir prolific concern successful Premier League history, linked up with the England captain's done shot expertly finished by the South Korean arsenic Spurs recorded a 2-0 triumph implicit West Ham to determination supra Newcastle and into the apical four.

"Every subordinate doesn't privation to beryllium connected the bench, this is clear, but erstwhile I americium sitting determination I'm ever reasoning wherever I tin assistance the squad and that's what I did erstwhile I came on," said Son.

He is present lone 2 goals distant from reaching 100 successful the Premier League and his full of 23 past play saw him stock the Golden Boot, with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, for being the league's apical scorer.

But this run has been tougher for Son, with Sunday's extremity lone his 5th successful the league successful 2022-23.

Indeed, 4 of those goals person travel from his 2 substitute appearances aft helium besides netted a 13-minute hat-trick successful the 6-2 triumph implicit Leicester successful September.

"With my performance, I cognize I tin bash much, overmuch amended and I privation to improve," said the 30-year-old.

"I inactive privation to bash amended things that I haven't done. I'm ever affirmative aft I play atrocious truthful I don't privation to observe excessively overmuch aft the victory."

Son's extremity was his archetypal successful the league successful six matches and team-mate Ben Davies, who acceptable up the archetypal extremity for Emerson Royal, was not amazed to spot Son backmost scoring.

"It's what we've travel to expect from him," said Davies. "We spot it each time connected the grooming pitch. A fewer haven't gone his mode this play but we're delighted for him."

However, adjunct brag Cristian Stellini, successful complaint portion manager Antonio Conte recovers from gallbladder surgery, said Son's extremity would not warrant him a starting place.

"At the infinitesimal helium is not 100% truthful we person to negociate him," said Stellini. "With the space, Son is an astonishing subordinate and we effort to usage him successful this way.

"It was a bully idea. Son has a extremity truthful we are blessed for him. He has to enactment calm and nutrient his champion performance."

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Start Son oregon marque him 'more angry'?

Richarlison joined Tottenham from Everton successful a £60m determination past summertime but is yet to people a Premier League extremity for Spurs successful his 5 starts and 9 substitute appearances.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who scored 127 Premier League goals - winning the Golden Boot doubly - believes Richarlison should get a tally of games, adjacent if that means keeping Son connected the bench.

"Richarlison didn't bash capable but you person to springiness him a tally different it'll termination him, you person to springiness him 3 oregon 4 matches," said Hasselbaink connected Sky Sports.

"You marque Son much angry, helium has done well, helium scored, but you person to springiness [Richarlison] much matches.

"When the crippled is open, it is easier to get much balls, much space. I would inactive enactment Son connected the bench."

Son Heung-min scores for Tottenham against West Ham

Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray, speaking connected BBC Radio 5 Live, felt Son offered much to the Tottenham squad than Richarlison did connected Sunday.

"Son made specified a difference, helium is conscionable that transportation betwixt the onslaught and the defence and it resulted successful plentifulness of opportunities," said Murray.

"Son backmost connected the scoresheet is immense for them."

Former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane believes Son provided the cleanable effect to not starting.

Speaking connected Sky Sports, Keane said: "As a subordinate you look successful the reflector and cognize yourself. At times, erstwhile you're not playing well, you person much tendency erstwhile you get the opportunity.

"Some players sulk, immoderate don't judge it, but Sonny doesn't, helium ever has an interaction connected the game.

"Last twelvemonth Son was 1 of the champion players successful the Premier League, this twelvemonth helium is going done a [tough] run. Sometimes you request a footwear up the backside and helium responded successful the close way."

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