Son Heung-min's Scoring Drought: Korea Coach Hong Myung-bo Remains Unfazed Despite World Cup Concerns

Through nine MLS matches with LAFC, Son Heung-min has managed just a single goal — and that came from the penalty spot. For a footballer who's been recognized as East Asia's premier attacking talent for nearly a decade, these numbers are raising eyebrows, regardless of what the coaching staff might say publicly.

Korea's national team manager Hong Myung-bo is maintaining a measured approach to the situation. "Considering everything he's accomplished throughout his career, I'm not worried," Hong explained to media members before Tuesday's training session in Milton Keynes. The faith makes sense — you don't dismiss a talent like Son based solely on a sluggish beginning to a new chapter. However, with the World Cup set for June, the timing of this goal-scoring drought creates genuine concern for the Korean national squad.

Tactical adjustment on the horizon

Hong revealed an intriguing tactical consideration: Son might not feature as a striker or traditional left winger in the upcoming international friendlies. "Right now, we've got strikers in excellent form with Oh Hyeon-gyu and Cho Gue-sung," he explained. "So Son could be deployed in a wider role this time around."

This represents a significant tactical evolution. It indicates Hong is constructing his World Cup game plan based on current form rather than past achievements — a sensible approach, even though it fundamentally changes what Son's contribution looks like at this point in his career. The unspoken question is whether Son can impact matches from a wider position as effectively as he did from the left flank in his prime.

Korea squares off against Ivory Coast this Saturday, followed by Austria the next Tuesday. These represent the final two warm-up matches before the group stage composition becomes clear, where they'll battle Mexico, South Africa, and a European playoff qualifier. Victories in both contests would ease tensions. Defeats in both while Son remains scoreless would amplify concerns.

Health issues adding complications

Son was also dealing with illness this week, creating additional questions about his readiness and match fitness. Hong confirmed that PSG's Lee Kang-in and Borussia Mönchengladbach's Jens Castrop are both managing foot problems, though neither injury is as severe as originally suspected.

• Castrop shows no ligament damage but continues to deal with swelling — his status is day-to-day for the Ivory Coast fixture
• Lee Kang-in's injury proved less concerning than initial assessments suggested, with a final decision on his participation expected Wednesday

Korea's attacking arsenal — featuring Son, Lee, Oh, and Cho — represents one of their genuine advantages entering the tournament. But that advantage only materializes if these players are healthy and performing at their peak. Currently, two of their most crucial offensive weapons are managing injuries, while their captain hasn't found the net from open play across nine appearances.

"Securing victories in these matches will prove crucial" for building team morale, Hong stated. That's not just tactical jargon — Korea requires both form and conviction before June arrives, not merely physical fitness. Whether Son can break his scoring drought this weekend deserves close attention from football observers and betting markets alike.