Son Heung-min trains in a protective face mask ahead of the World Cup and insists 'there shouldn't be any problems' with injury recovery but admits 'it is difficult to say if I will play in every match' ahead of South Korea's opener against Uruguay
- Son Heung-min is in training for South Korea as they gear up for the World Cup
- He fractured his eye socket during a Champions League match with Tottenham
- Son was included in the South Korea squad and declared himself fit for Qatar
- The Spurs forward has been pictured in training for the first time with a mask
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Son Heung-min has been pictured in training wearing a face mask for the first time ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and admitted he doesn't know if he will play every game for South Korea.
The Tottenham star had been a doubt for the tournament after he suffered a fractured eye socket during his side's Champions League clash with Marseille at the start of the month.
He quickly underwent a surgery on the damaged area and missed Tottenham's last three games before the World Cup break.
![Son Heung-min has been pictured for the first time wearing a mask ahead of the World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/12/64599217-11434049-Son_Heung_min_has_been_pictured_for_the_first_time_wearing_a_mas-m-2_1668600515558.jpg)
Son Heung-min has been pictured for the first time wearing a mask ahead of the World Cup
![The Tottenham star fractured an eye socket during a Champions League match this month](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/08/64599243-0-image-a-12_1668588624077.jpg)
The Tottenham star fractured an eye socket during a Champions League match this month
There had been concerns over whether the 30-year-old would be fit in time for Qatar, before Son confirmed in a message on social media that he would be ready for the tournament.
And after training with the national side on Wednesday, he said: 'I have been playing without missing any matches until the winter season. I have been resting only for the last 10 days (because of the surgery) so this has been an opportunity for me to refresh my condition. Going through a surgery can ruin your body but I was told that my surgery went very well. I am still recovering but there shouldn't be any problems.
![South Korea fans will be delighted to see Son back in training eight days before they play Uruguay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/08/64599231-0-image-a-16_1668588685070.jpg)
South Korea fans will be delighted to see Son back in training eight days before they play Uruguay
'Before (arriving in Qatar) I went through trained as I usually have. So the first training session felt just like the training (back in Tottenham). The team (Tottenham) and the national squad have been communicating about my condition, and this helped me going through the first training here (in Qatar).
'I came here despite the fact that I am injured and fully aware that there is always a risk of getting hurt. It's difficult to say that 'I will play in every match.' I would like to update you after monitoring my condition day by day, and step by step.'
After announcing his squad for the World Cup on Saturday, South Korea manager Paulo Bento said of Son's fitness: 'We are in contact with him, with the Tottenham medical department, but about the exact time, the exact day he can train with the team.
'We need to analyse day-by-day his situation. We have time to decide and the most important is he recovers as well as possible, he feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision.'
South Korean fans will therefore be delighted to see their star player back in training, albeit with the face mask - eight days before they kick-off their World Cup against Uruguay on November 24.
![Son swiftly underwent surgery and was included in South Korea's 26-man World Cup squad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/08/64599245-0-image-a-13_1668588643830.jpg)
Son swiftly underwent surgery and was included in South Korea's 26-man World Cup squad
The country were drawn into Group H of the tournament which will also includes clashes with Ghana and Portugal.
Son fractured the orbital bone in his face during the first-half of Tottenham's Champions League game against Marseille on November 1.
He clashed heads with defender Chancel Mbemba and was forced off injured.
Son made his debut for South Korea in 2010 and has gone on to make 104 appearances for his country, scoring 35 goals.
![South Korea were drawn into Group H in a tough group involving Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/08/64599239-0-image-a-17_1668588719470.jpg)
South Korea were drawn into Group H in a tough group involving Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana
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