Son Heung-min apologises for having to miss matches
Son Heung-Min has apologised for having to miss Spurs matches as he attempts to win the Asian Cup with South Korea, and in the process avoid national service.
Law in South Korea dictates thhat all males must perform national military service before the age of 28, however, exceptions can be made.
Heung-Min will be available for Spurs' first game at Newcastle, as they kick-off the Premier League season, but will then have to fly to Indonesia to play for his country.
If the Spurs player is able to win the gold medal ewith his team, it would mean he would not have to serve.
Son had signed a contract until 2023, putting the club in a difficult situation.
"I feel sorry because Tottenham is my team and I feel very sorry to be leaving my team-mates," he said.
"I am playing for my country and that is also important, but honestly I feel very sorry about that. That is what I feel."
Son had been reluctant to talk about national service, even now that it is looming on the horizon.
"We can talk about this afterwards," he said.
"We haven't won it already. We are going there to win something and winning trophies for my country is always good. I don't travel there for nothing."
Son played 43 of Spurs' 45 games last season, and has scored 47 goals for the club.
He is now the highest scoring Asian player in Premier League history.