Son Heung-min, the forward of Tottenham Hotspur, leaves South Korea to join his team at Incheon International Airport, on July 16. / Yonhap



By John Duerden



On July 31, South Korea's men will start training for the soccer tournament in the 2018 Asian Games though Son Heung-min will not be there. The forward will be in the United States with Tottenham Hotspur. The opposition will be a little more glamorous with pre-season friendly games against Roma, Barcelona and AC Milan.



The star has been named in the Korean roster however, just that he will not be released by the London club until after the start of the English Premier League season on August 11. The Asian Games kick off three days later in Indonesia. Son will feature for Spurs in the opening game of the season against Newcastle and then will jet off to Southeast Asia for international commitments. It is not ideal for Korea as the 26 year-old will not be able to take part in any of the training and preparations and will arrive in Indonesia jet-lagged and tired.



Yet there is no other way. Tottenham is under no obligation to release the player. The Asian Games is not part of the recognized soccer season and so Korea has to ask nicely. The only reason Spurs is allowing this to happen, and the only reason why Son is so desperate to play, is that winning gold at the tournament grants military exemption.



Should this happen then Son heads back to England to continue his career in the world's biggest league safe in the knowledge that he does not have to return home in the next couple of years for a 21-month long tour of duty with the K-League's military club.



Despite the uncertainty, Son signed a new contract at Tottenham on Friday. He is now tied to the club until 2023, a reward for these three successful seasons in England in which he has become loved by Spurs fan and respected by everyone else.



"I'm very happy to sign a new contract. I hope to see you this season at the new stadium," Son said in a video message that referred to the club moving to a new 61,000 capacity stadium.



It remains to be seen how long Son is away from Europe. Korea will be hoping to contest the final of the Asian Games on Sept. 1 and would therefore miss league games against Fulham, Manchester United and then Watford on Sept. 2. There is then an international break until Sept. 15.



It remains to be seen whether South Korea's senior team selects the player for yet to be arranged friendly games or allows Son to return to London to rest in order to be ready for English Premier League action when it resumes. Spurs will surely prefer the latter option.



It also remains to be seen which teams Korea will face in Indonesia. The original draw placed the Taegeuk Warriors in a group that contained Bahrain, Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan. It was a fairly welcome group but United Arab Emirates and Palestine had been omitted from the original draw and a new selection is due soon.



The uncertainty will soon be over _ for Korea, Son and Spurs.

