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Son Heung-Min is set to return to action for Tottenham Hotspur after playing for South Korea at the Asian Cup.

The winger, playing in his second international tournament this season, could not avert a shock defeat for his country in the quarter-finals as they were beaten 1-0 by Qatar on Friday, and Son needs to be back in Mauricio Pochettino's XI as soon as possible.

On the chalkboard

Spurs have struggled without Son.

Of course, Harry Kane and Dele Alli both sustained injuries at the worst possible time with Son already away, leaving Pochettino without his three most potent attacking weapons.

He had been on an electric run of form before his departure to the United Arab Emirates, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in just 10 games, as per Transfermarkt.

Spurs lost 1-0 to Manchester United in his final game, and have since been knocked out of two cup competitions without the winger.

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A 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday saw them eliminated from the FA Cup, while they were beaten by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Thursday, losing on penalties at Stamford Bridge.

Son, during his time at the Asian Cup, drew a blank for South Korea, but he did provide two assists in the final game of the group stages against China as they won 2-0. Perhaps unfortunately for Spurs, Son played 89 minutes against China, 120 against Bahrain - in which his nation won in extra time - and 90 in the defeat to Qatar.

Pochettino, per the London Evening Standard, expects to have Son available for the midweek clash with Watford but unsurprisingly revealed that the winger is exhausted: "He's so tired, played three games. Very tough games. Not too much energy today, but we hope he'll be available on Wednesday."

Fatigue be damned

Son simply has to start against Watford.

He may be tired, but an exhausted Son is better than a fully-fit Georges-Kevin N'Koudou.

The 23-year-old turned in an atrocious display against Palace, despite earning his chance in a cameo against Fulham after Son's departure; he came off the bench to provide the assist for Harry Winks' dramatic late winner.

Son was sorely missed against both Chelsea and Palace, however, with no player able to offer his pacey, driving runs on the counter.

Fernando Llorente has played reasonably well without him, but it is very clear that he does not have the required ability to lead the line for Spurs for a considerable period of time.

Now Son is back, he should be restored to the striking position against the Hornets and give Spurs the cutting edge they have brutally lacked.

It is, of course, a tough ask to expect him to hit the ground running but with the lack of alternatives in the squad, Pochettino simply does not have another option.