Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has expressed cautious optimism regarding the potential return of captain Son Heung-min for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, as his team prepares for the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Son, 32, has missed the last seven matches due to a foot injury, including both legs of Tottenham’s 5-1 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-finals. While Postecoglou is uncertain, he revealed that he is “half hopeful” Son could return to action against Palace.

"Everyone got through OK the other night. I’m half hopeful we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow so he’ll be the only one that sort of can come back in," Postecoglou said. "I think what we do know about Thursday night, playing on an artificial pitch (in Norway) takes a lot out of the players, and it’s fair to say they were sore."

Despite Son's absence, Postecoglou has praised the resilience of his squad. With key defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie expected to be rested for the Palace game, Tottenham sit in 16th place in the Premier League, just one point below Manchester United. However, the team is still fighting for silverware, with a Europa League final spot secured and a place in the League Cup semi-finals.

The Europa League final, scheduled for May 21 in Bilbao, will also be a significant milestone for Postecoglou, who will manage his 100th match with Tottenham. Reflecting on his journey, the Australian manager acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster of his tenure.

“It’d be a nice little bow for that 100, and it’s been a really full 100,” Postecoglou said. “I’ve experienced just about every emotion, and hopefully, the one emotion we all want will be the joy at the end of it."

The Australian coach admitted that Tottenham’s injury-riddled season, coupled with a demanding schedule of 60 games, has been tough. But he remains focused on the potential rewards ahead.

“We’ve had a really difficult season with injuries, but we’ve still performed well in two major competitions, and that’s involved 60 matches. It’s definitely felt like a long season, especially for me personally," Postecoglou explained. "But when you look at what’s ahead and the chance to achieve something special, it gives you the energy to keep going."

With the Europa League final looming, Postecoglou and his players are determined to secure Tottenham’s first major trophy in 17 years.