Son Heung-min surgery successful; World Cup availability still unclear

Son Heung-min successfully underwent surgery on fractures around his left eye, the Korea Football Association said Saturday, although it is too early to determine if he will be fit to appear at the Qatar World Cup.

Tottenham's Son Heung-min leaves the field injured during a Champions League Group D match against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France on Tuesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Son Heung-min successfully underwent surgery on fractures around his left eye, the Korea Football Association said Saturday, although it is too early to determine if he will be fit to appear at the Qatar World Cup.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, an official said Tottenham Hotspur has informed the KFA that the procedure was completed successfully. The official said it's too early to discuss whether Son will be available for the World Cup, adding that medical staff remain in close contact with Spurs regarding the injury.

Son’s eye socket was fractured after Chancel Mbemba’s shoulder connected with his face during the 29th minute of a Champions League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Marseille at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.

Son's face appeared to be heavily swollen and he was helped off the pitch by medical staff. An image posted on Instagram by teammate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after the game showed Son celebrating the win with the team, but he appears to be struggling to open his left eye.

Tottenham announced on Wednesday that Son would require surgery, but provided no further information on the extent of his injury.

The injury comes just three weeks before the start of the 2022 Qatar World Cup where Son was expected to captain the Korean national football team. Surgery does not immediately preclude him from national duty, according to some experts, but whether he is able to play, perhaps wearing a mask, will depend on the extent of the surgery and his recovery.

According to the experts, Son’s recovery time is likely to depend on the location of the fractures.

"If the bottom of the eye socket is fractured, it is difficult to return within three weeks,” said Dr. Kim Kwon-il from Yeabit Eye Clinic.

“However, I guess Son's cheekbone may have shifted because he hit the side of his face. If the damage is to the outside of the of the eye socket, it can be restored with simple surgery. He could be back within three weeks."

The Korea Football Association is expected to hold off on making any announcement about the Qatar World Cup squad until after Son has started rehabilitation.

For Korean national team head coach Paulo Bento the injury could create a very perilous situation. Son is the most-capped active player in the Korean team, with over 100 national team appearances, and the top active goalscorer, with 35.

He has been at the center of every full-strength attacking line Korea has fielded for the best part of the last decade, and although Bento has a large number of midfielders to choose from, few have the versatility and none have the experience that Son brings to the squad.

There have been examples of players coming back from an orbital fracture injury very quickly. Last year, Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne fractured his eye sockets less than three weeks before the 2020 Euros, but was still able to join the Belgian squad later in the tournament.

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, however, was out for two months with a similar injury and still wears a mask when playing.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]