Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has praised the “amazing quality” of young prospect Mikey Moore and is confident that the 17-year-old has the potential to become “one of the top players” in football. Despite his youth, Moore is already a highly-regarded talent at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he’s been integrated into head coach Ange Postecoglou’s plans for the future. Having made two brief appearances from the bench for the senior team last season, the promising teenager featured again late in Tottenham’s recent victory over Brentford. His inclusion hints at further opportunities, especially with the Europa League on the horizon.
Moore’s talent has clearly stood out to Son, who has taken the young left-winger under his wing during training at Hotspur Way. The Spurs captain has not only been a mentor but also someone Moore frequently seeks advice from as he navigates his early career in top-flight football.
Speaking to *football.london* ahead of Tottenham’s upcoming match against Qarabag, Son shared his thoughts on Moore: “Yeah, he’s a fantastic boy. Obviously, he’s come through the academy, and when someone like that comes through, you as a club, you want to take care of them even more. Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive of him, and so have I because he’s such a lovely kid. He’s working hard every single day, and it’s not easy being his age and training with the first team. At times, you can see he’s shy, but his dedication and work ethic really stand out to me.”
Son went on to explain the importance of nurturing young talent, recalling his own experiences: “When I see young players working hard in the first team, I just want to help them. I remember when I was young, playing at Hamburg, Ruud van Nistelrooy helped me a lot. Now I want to be that guy for the younger players. Mikey comes to me quite often to ask questions, and I enjoy talking to him. He’s a fantastic boy, and I’m confident that he has the potential to be a fantastic player. His quality is just incredible.”
However, Son urged fans and media not to place too much pressure on the young talent, emphasizing the importance of allowing Moore to develop at his own pace: “As we always say with young players, let’s not pile pressure on his shoulders. Let’s enjoy watching his development, how he improves every day and every season. As fans and supporters, we should be excited to see where he goes because I truly believe he’ll be one of the top players in the future.”
Son, a crucial figure in Postecoglou’s system, has had to adjust his game under the new coach’s tactical demands. He’s played both as a left-winger and a central striker, depending on the needs of the team. The demands on Tottenham’s wingers under Postecoglou are different from previous managers, requiring both Son and Dejan Kulusevski to adapt their styles of play.
When asked about the tactical changes, Son explained: “It’s all about the manager’s system, and you have to adapt to that. It’s very important, but it doesn’t mean I have to stay out wide all the time. In the last game, for example, I was cutting inside, making runs into central areas when Dom [Solanke] dropped deep and pulled the centre-backs out of position. It’s about reading the situation, and Deki [Kulusevski] prefers to play more centrally where he can hold up the ball well. He’s had a great season so far.”
Son also highlighted Kulusevski’s underappreciated workrate, saying: “One thing people don’t always notice about Deki is his incredible workrate. He’s everywhere on the pitch, and when I see the data, I’m often shocked at how much ground he covers. It feels like he never stops running. Players like that are crucial to the team, and he’s doing an amazing job at the moment.”
Overall, Son’s comments provide a glimpse into the camaraderie within the squad, the mentorship of young players like Mikey Moore, and the tactical evolution under Postecoglou’s guidance. With a blend of experienced stars like Son and emerging talents like Moore, Tottenham’s future looks bright.