Peter Crouch questions why Son Heung-min is still playing for Tottenham

The South Korea international, last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner, was signed from Bayer Leverkusen for a relatively modest £17.5million seven years ago.

With over a century of goals for the north London club, the 30-year-old is firmly established as one of world football’s most prolific forwards and yet has rarely, if ever, been linked with moves to either of the Spanish giants or Spurs’ domestic rivals.

Son cut a dejected figure when he was dropped to the bench for his side’s game against Leicester prior to the international break, but responded with a devastating hat-trick in a blistering 13-minute second half spell.

Antonio Conte restored Son to his starting XI for the north London derby with Crouch suggesting Spurs fans have been fortunate to enjoy his goalscoring talents for such an extended period.

He said: ‘He has been snatching at things but that hat-trick against Leicester was the Son of last season.

‘I think he needs to have more respect on his name.

‘He is one goal behind Teddy Sheringham – who was a legend for Tottenham. Son too will become a legend I think, if he is not already.

‘The funny thing it Tottenham don’t seem to have had a problem keeping him. I don’t know why the top top clubs in Europe don’t come in for him – he is that good.’

Spurs came into Saturday’s showdown without a win at the Emirates since 2010 but Son was confident of a history changing result.

He said: ‘It has been tough to listen to this, that we have not won here in 12 years, even in the international week leading up to the game.

‘I hope today we are going to be changing that history. I think everyone will be ready for a tough battle.’

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