Spurs risk losing four attackers vs Leeds United amid new injury blow and Kane suspension threat

Spurs were forced to withdraw South Korean forward Son Heung-min during the first half of Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League win versus Olympique de Marseille after the 30-year-old suffered a head injury. Son collided with Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba, whose shoulder connected with the Korean’s head, leaving him dazed on the turf amid fears the attacker had suffered a concussion.

Unable to carry on and unsteady as he was removed from the field, Son is set to be assessed before this weekend’s fixture with Liverpool and could even be a doubt for Spurs’ next game at home to Leeds United, depending on the severity of his head injury.

The Football Association’s concussion protocols outline the following: “The player should not be allowed to return to play for at least 6 days after the injury (it often takes longer than this) and in strict accordance with the return to play guidelines.”

There are six stages of rehabilitation to the return to play guidelines, each taking one day to complete: No activity in the 24 hours following the head injury, light aerobic exercise, sports specific exercise, non-contact training drills, full contact practice and eventual return to play. If the player in question fails a concussion test during the completion of these rehabilitation steps, they are required to remain on that particular step.

“In this moment, we don't know,” Antonio Conte said following the match. “We have to wait for a medical assessment, and we have to wait until tomorrow. Sonny feels better now. I saw him in the dressing room. He celebrated with us. So we will wait.”

In addition to Son’s head injury, Spurs have been without Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski for a number of weeks. On the Brazilian – who hopes to make Brazil’s World Cup squad later this month – Conte said: “Richy has his injury, it's not a serious injury, but he needs a bit of time to recover. He was really worried after the game against Everton.”

It is unclear when Richarlison will return before the World Cup, if at all, while Swedish international Kulusevski appears to have suffered a setback in his return from a thigh injury: “I think we have to wait a bit of time to see him with us,” Conte said late last month. “His recovery was going well, and then one day, the situation worsened. When this happens, you have to restart.”

It is likely that Spurs will be without the aforementioned trio for this weekend’s fixture against Liverpool, leaving Harry Kane to plough a lone furrow in attack, supported only by fringe first-team squad members such as Lucas Moura. However, Kane will also find himself ruled out of Leeds’ visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if he picks up a fifth yellow card of the season against the Reds, incurring a one-match suspension.