Former Premier League full-back Danny Mills has compared Heung-min Son to the likes of Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The South Korean star has been a revelation for Tottenham Hotspur during the ongoing campaign and he is currently the second-highest scorer for the team behind Harry Kane this term.

Speaking to Stadium Astro, Mills indicated that Son has been restricted with his performances whenever Harry Kane has been on the field. He added that the former Bayer Leverkusen man can be compared to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, given his urge to have more of the ball to make an impact, he said: “Whenever you play with a superstar player, as one of the ‘lesser’ players you’re going ‘right, I need to give it to him’. And I think sometimes there is that focus – Harry Kane’s available, let’s give it to him.

“But actually, when Harry Kane’s not, Son’s equally as good in a different way so maybe he gets more of the ball. Maybe players look for him first and that gives him that fraction more time on the ball.I think that’s what it is, you can’t help it. When players play with Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], or [Lionel] Messi – whoever it is, you’re instant thought is give it to them.”

Son was hugely influential towards Tottenham Hotspur’s progress to the Champions League semi-finals after scoring three of the club’s four goals during the quarter-final stage against Manchester City. He could not repeat the feat against the Citizens in the Premier League, but he is expected to remain crucial to the club’s plans upfront with Kane potentially ruled out for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage.

Spurs are currently third on the league table with 67 points on the board and they are just one point behind fifth-placed Chelsea. Still, they remain the favourites to secure one of the remaining two Champions League spots, considering they have the easier run-in when compared to the rest of the challengers.