Tottenham’s Heung-min Son is one of the best players in the world but still underrated in the game, according to teammate Ryan Sessegnon.
Son reached 19 goals for the season with a clinical double in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Leicester, making him the outright top scorer from open play in the Premier League and behind only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah -- on 22 -- in the race for the Golden Boot.
Both of Son’s goals came with his supposedly weaker left foot, including a stunning effort into the top corner to make it 3-0, and he also assisted Harry Kane’s opener with a corner.
Kane is widely regarded as one of the best forwards in the world but Son is often overlooked in debates about the league’s best marksmen, despite his consistency.
Asked about the front five of next weekend’s opponents Liverpool, Sessegnon said he would not swap Kane or Son for anyone and believes the latter is underrated on account of his character.
Asked if Son is one of the best in the world, Sessegnon said: "100 per cent. He has been consistent over the last six or seven years, doing it at the top level and the numbers speak for themselves.
"It’s hard to know why he is underrated because consistently, season after season, his numbers are there. I think it’s because he’s such a down-to-earth, normal guy. He’s not an arrogant person and he’s just very friendly with everyone. That’s probably why [he is underrated].
"Of course, [Son and Kane] make it much easier for us. They can do special things on the ball and you saw that again on Sunday. Sonny assisted H again and their combination they’ve had ever since playing together is unbelievable.
"No way [would we swap them]. The two players we have [up front] are world class and we wouldn’t swap them for anyone."
Sessegnon’s Spurs career has been revived under Antonio Conte and he is hoping the head coach remains at the club next season, despite his consistent refusals to commit beyond the end of the current campaign.
The wing-back insists the speculation over Conte’s future is not a distraction for the squad and says the Italian is helping to restore his confidence after a succession of hamstring injuries.
"Is the speculation unsettling? Not really, not at all," Sessegnon said. "We’re professionals and we focus on our game and step by step. You heard him yourself, [the speculation is] obviously false news, he’s focusing on here at the club. As players we’re just focusing on our job going forward and that’s all we can do.
"Of course I hope he stays, he’s a top manager and he’s shown that with us this season. We hope he’s here next season and for us the main objective is to get in that top four and then prepare for next season.
"It has not been easy [for me] since I’ve been at the club, but step by step he gives me confidence in every game to go and do what I can do," Sessegnon added. "For me it’s about believing in myself and getting in that positive run, feeling good and keep pushing.
"Every day, every game as well learning bit by bit, the defensive side, the attacking side. Of course he’s very demanding and [as a wing-back] you need to be up and down. You almost have to manage yourself when to go, when to relax a little bit, but it is relentless."
Asked if he now has confidence in his body to remain injury-free, the 21-year-old added: "Definitely. At times it is quite hard, it’s a mental battle with the physical side as well. Right now I feel good and I’m giving 100 per cent every time I’m out there."
Arsenal’s win at West Ham later on Sunday means Spurs remain two points behind their fourth-placed rivals and need to beat quadruple-chasing Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday to guarantee they will be within touching distance of their neighbours in next week’s potentially crucial north London derby.
Sessegnon impressed in the 2-2 draw with Jurgen Klopp’s side in December and says both the team and himself can take confidence from that performance.
"We’ll look at the game and see the positives and take those positives into the next game at Anfield," he said. "We know it’s a different stage of the season and we have to manage it. But again when we have the chances to score, we should take those chances.
"I think every game I play in this team gives me confidence to go and do what I want to do on the pitch, especially against the big teams as I played well in the last game when they came here. It’ll be no different going into that game."
