World Cup: South Korea star Son Heung-min pictured training in face mask for the first time

Son Heung-min has been pictured in training wearing a face mask for the first time ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

The South Korea star had been a doubt for the tournament after he suffered a fractured eye socket during Tottenham‘s Champions League clash with Marseille at the start of the month.

He quickly underwent a surgery on the damaged area and missed Tottenham’s last three games before the World Cup break.  

Son Heung-min has been pictured for the first time wearing a mask ahead of the World Cup

The Tottenham star fractured an eye socket during a Champions League match this month

There had been concerns over whether the 30-year-old would be fit in time for Qatar, before Son confirmed in a message on social media that he would be ready for the tournament.

South Korea fans will be delighted to see Son back in training eight days before they play Uruguay

After announcing his squad for the World Cup on Saturday, South Korea manager Paulo Bento said of Son’s fitness: ‘We are in contact with him, with the Tottenham medical department, but about the exact time, the exact day he can train with the team. 

‘We need to analyse day-by-day his situation. We have time to decide and the most important is he recovers as well as possible, he feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision.’ 

South Korean fans will therefore be delighted to see their star player back in training, albeit with the face mask – eight days before they kick-off their World Cup against Uruguay on November 24.

The country were drawn into Group H of the tournament which will also includes clashes with Ghana and Portugal.

Son fractured the orbital bone in his face during the first-half of Tottenham’s Champions League game against Marseille on November 1.

He clashed heads with defender Chancel Mbemba and was forced off injured. 

Son swiftly underwent surgery and was included in South Korea’s 26-man World Cup squad

South Korea were drawn into Group H in a tough group involving Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana

After questions were raised over his participation at football’s grandest stage, Son took to Instagram to share the following message: ‘Hi everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you all for the 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 touch time I received a lot of strength from you!

‘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 this for the world. I can’t wait to represent our beautiful country. See you soon. Sonny’.

Son made his debut for South Korea in 2010 and has gone on to make 104 appearances for his country, scoring 35 goals.