Ange Postecoglou provides Son Heung-min Tottenham injury update for Man City as huge call looms

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham side could certainly do with a boost heading into Wednesday evening's Carabao Cup tie against Manchester City. On the losing side on Sunday afternoon after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, Spurs need to respond with a win but also a much better performance.

Tottenham just never got going at Selhurst Park as Oliver Glasner's team made life incredibly difficult for the north London club. This week's cup tie against the Premier League champions could perhaps be viewed as the perfect game by some as Spurs will have no option but to raise their game as they look to reach the fifth round.

Postecoglou has stated that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club and the hope will be that he can do just that as Spurs look to end their long wait without a trophy. Many teams rotate heavily in the Carabao Cup, with Pep Guardiola hinting that he could play some academy stars at Tottenham after previously admitting that his club will not "waste energy" on the competition this season.

Regardless of what Guardiola does or not, Spurs need to go full strength if they are serious about going far in the Carabao Cup and potentially lifting it at Wembley in March. In terms of the Tottenham team to take on Man City, Son Heung-min's fitness will be the main talking point after missing out through injury in the recent games against AZ Alkmaar and Crystal Palace.

The South Korean is a big miss for Tottenham in an attacking sense and also in terms of his leadership. Speaking ahead of the Crystal Palace defeat, Postecoglou hinted that his captain "should be alright for next week" with games coming up against Man City and Aston Villa.

“It's not really a hamstring injury, but he was out for a while and wasn't feeling right after the last game, so we're just being conservative with him," explained the 59-year-old. "All things being well, he should be alright for next week.”

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Pressed further on Son's fitness after the defeat, Postecoglou told SPURSPLAY: “He seems to be progressing well so, hopefully, he’ll be available for one of the games.”

If Postecoglou is to go full strength, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke will be automatic picks in the front three unless the head coach wants to switch things up and bring Richarlison into his team. It is then up in the air over who starts from the left-wing and it may all hinge on Son's fitness.

A third successive start for 17-year-old Mikey Moore would undoubtedly be too much for him as Postecoglou said on the eve of the Crystal Palace fixture that he'd be cautious about asking him to start two games in such a short space of time. Moore was positive in his play when on the ball against the Eagles but the opportunity to really run at them and cause issues were few and far between.

football.london asked Postecoglou in his post-match press conference how he felt Moore had done on his full Premier League debut. The Australian said: "Like I said it, wasn't really a great game for anybody out there from our perspective. Mikey every time he's out there he'll be a better player and the more we can get him out there in the right sort of environment then he'll keep thriving. I'm sure he'll learn a lot today.

"The kind of team we want to be or the way we want to play we need to be a lot more composed in the way we deal with certain things out there to not let the game get out of control."

Other options on the left for Postecoglou include Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner. Question marks will surround the Frenchman's availability as he was not in the squad against the Eagles on Sunday, with Werner needing a big performance if he is to start after his struggles in the final third in last Thursday's win over AZ Alkmaar.

Richarlison is another player who can operate from the left, although he would perhaps be better utilised through the middle or as an impact sub if he is not to start the match. Heading into a must-win match for Tottenham, the hope will be that Son is fit enough to feature and start the game at home to City.

Prior to last season where they won both games in N17, Guardiola's team had a wretched record at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having lost their first five fixtures at the Spurs' home and failed to score a single goal in the process. Son was a pivotal player for Spurs in those meetings and he will be once again if ready to go against the reigning champions in midweek.

After what happened at Selhurst Park on Sunday, Postecoglou needs Son and the rest of his players fit and firing if he is to lead Tottenham to glory in his second season at the club.

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