Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min has confirmed that he will be in South Korea's World Cup squad despite fracturing his eye socket in four places last week.
The 30-year-old had successful surgery on Friday and will wear a specially-designed protective mask during the tournament in Qatar. Son suffered the gruesome injury in the first half of Spurs' Champions League win away to Marseille eight days ago having clashed with a should of the French club's defender Chancel Mbemba.
Son required assistance to stagger off the pitch and walk down the tunnel. Initially there were fears that he would miss out on leading South Korea at the World Cup and his surgery was brought forward by a couple of days to increase his chances of making it.
Now, after receiving the go ahead from doctors, Son has confirmed he will be in the squad via a post on his Instagram page.
"Hi everyone, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for that messages of support I have received over the last week. I have read so many of them and truly, truly appreciate you all. In a tough time I receive a lot of strength from you!" he wrote.
"Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too. I won't miss this for the world. I can't wait to represent our beautiful country, see you soon."
Son provided additional detail in Korean, referring to fans having to wear masks throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. "Considering the masks you've been wearing with patience for the past two years, my masks that will be worn at the World Cup will be nothing," he said. "If there is only 1% possibility, I will run with that possibility to represent our beautiful country at the World Cup."
South Korea begin their Group H campaign against Uruguay on November 24 before taking on Ghana four days later and Portugal on December 2. Head coach Paulo Bento will confirm his 26-man squad on Saturday.
Belgium and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, 31, suffered a similar injury last year, when he sustained fractures to his nose and left eye socket following a collision with Toni Rudiger during the Champions League final defeat to Chelsea in Porto. But De Bruyne underwent minor surgery and was fit to play for Belgium at Euro 2020 less than three weeks later.
