Given the news that Son Heung-min will require surgery, Antonio Conte actually has few options for offence right now.
After receiving a blow to the face during Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Marseille, Tottenham announced the following day that the South Korean international would require surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye.
Son’s absence presents the Spurs head coach with a significant decision to make regarding his attack going forward as he is now expected to miss Sunday’s Premier League match against Liverpool.
Without Dejan Kulusevski since September’s international break due to a hamstring injury and a calf issue keeping Richarlison on the sidelines, Conte and his coaching team need to devise a plan for when the Reds visit.
So who could replace Son in the Tottenham starting XI this weekend?
Bryan could be the wildcard.
He has made some impressive cameo appearances over the past week, and Tottenham fans are itching to see more of him.
On Sunday against Liverpool, he may get more playing time, but he’ll probably have to be content with playing from the bench once more.
That is, unless Conte chooses to start the Spaniard right away and use his Spurs wildcard.
But after declaring Bryan is a “really good prospect but physically is not so strong” prior to the Bournemouth game, it’s difficult to imagine him doing so.
It is clear that the Premier League is currently reluctant to give Bryan his first start, even against weaker competition.
However, if Bryan were to start against Liverpool, one of the top teams in the league, it would be a major act of faith in the young player. Simply given the chance to impress his manager right away during a game, the 21-year-old can prove himself to his coach.
Bryan will still think he has a good chance of playing a few solid minutes if the hosts need to add more attacking talent to the field despite the absence of a few key attacking players.
