Tottenham to allow Heung-min Son to miss start of season to play in Asian Games with South Korea
The South Korean winger could miss four games for Spurs as he goes for gold in Indonesia to keep him out of the army
HEUNG-MIN SON is likely to miss the start of the season with Tottenham - by playing for South Korea at the Asian Games.
The 25-year-old winger is being called back into international action, just months after scoring in the win against Germany at the World Cup.
But Spurs will not mind, should he claim gold in Indonesia.
Son is being threatened to do compulsory military service when he turns 26, which would see him leave his footballing career behind for two years.
Winning gold at the under-23 tournament represents one way for him to be exempt from the rule.
There have been calls for Son to remain in football after he scored twice in Russia.
South Koreans began a petition to keep Son and his team-mates out of the army, with fears that they are being punished for not reaching the knockout stages, despite being among the lowest ranked teams at the World Cup.
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Football at the Asian Games, an Olympic-style competition on the continent, kicks off on August 15 with the final taking place on September 1.
While it is a tournament for under-23 players, Son will take up one of the three overage squad positions.
South Korea will go to Indonesia as one of the favourites with fellow World Cup participants Iran and Saudi Arabia also in attendance.
Son will likely miss Tottenham's first four games, but could return in time for their inaugural match at their new stadium against Liverpool.