Some returns to action midweek for Son and Yun and hopefully that signals an uptick ahead of the weekend.

(image via zimbio.com)

By @KoreaFootAbroad

Some returns to action midweek for Son and Yun and hopefully that signals an uptick ahead of the weekend.

International break looms afterwards, and hopefully KNT can win their two matches vs. weaker AFC competition and ensure passage into next round of WCQ (and maybe earn breaks for stars for remaining WCQs).

Day	Time (KST)	Player	Club	Opponent	TV
Saturday	11:30 PM	Ryu Seung Woo	Bayer Leverkusen	Koln	Fox Sports 2
Saturday	11:30 PM	Kim Jin Su	Hoffenheim	Eintracht Frankfurt	Fox Soccer 2 Go
Sunday	12:00 AM	Yun Suk Young	QPR	Preston North End	None
Sunday	12:00 AM	Ki Sung Yueng	Swansea	@Norwich City	NBC Extra Time
Sunday	11:30 PM	Park Joo Ho	Dortmund	Schalke	Fox Sports 1
Monday	1:00 AM	Lee Chung Yong	Crystal Palace	@Liverpool	NBC Extra Time
Monday	1:00 AM	Son Heung Min	Tottenham	@Arsenal	NBCSN
Monday	1:30 AM	Hong Jeong Ho	Augsburg	Werder Bremen	Fox Sports 2
Monday	1:30 AM	Ji Dong Won	Augsburg	Werder Bremen	Fox Sports 2
Monday	1:30 AM	Koo Ja Cheol	Augsburg	Werder Bremen	Fox Sports 2
Monday	3:15 AM	Suk Hyun Jun	Vitoria Setubal	@Porto	None

Ryu Seung Woo -- I'm booting him out of the weekly updates until I see a sign that he's anywhere near action.  One last appearance for now.

Kim Jin Su -- He mentioned in an interview that Stevens has pitched a more defensive approach (but really any approach is more defensive than Gisdol).  He had a great performance last week so I expect him to get another start.

Yun Suk Young -- Not only did he make the squad for the first time this season, he started... out of position at LW.  Most all reports were that he played really well in the 65 minutes or so that he got before being taken off.  Unfortunately, he got his chance due to the desperation of his manager who was sacked after the match.  Neil Warnock, who had been in an advisory role over past few weeks, is taking over so we'll see where Yun fits in, if at all.  I suspect that he'll be in the squad but not convinced he will start.

Ki Sung Yueng -- I think that he will start as he starts getting more and more in the flow of things after a herky jerky start to the season.  Not sure how much Monk will want to tinker with his XI to get this right again.

Park Joo Ho -- He was an unused sub midweek, but I don't expect him to start the Revierderby with all that entails.

Lee Chung Yong -- He started midweek but got hurt 25 minutes in with a foot injury.  I imagine that will probably knock him out of the squad this weekend even though reports are that the injury was minor as they implied that he would still report for KNT duty.  Even if he were fit, some other players like Wickham were returning to fitness and bench spots would have been tight.

Son Heung Min -- Came on as a sub at 60 minutes and definitely showed the rust of no matches in several weeks.  His first touch was at times really atrocious and he really couldn't beat anyone on the dribble.  That said, he started to get some nice touch on his passes, like the one long pass that started the attack for the winning goal.  And he collected an assist for smart knockdown and pass for that goal.  We'll see if he starts this weekend.  Not sure what Pochettino's plan was for his return and also how sharp Son looked in practice.  But he'll definitely be in the squad.

Ji Dong Won -- A very tough and good performance from Ji, who was a constant presence with his running and pressing.  That said, he wasn't particularly efficient / classy with his touches but he provided a ton of energy for Augsburg.  And he scored a nice goal too to help ice the win, taking a ball over the top from just past midway all the way down, and finished with a nice shot to the far post.  The biggest question will be how much he has left in the tank.  I think that he'll start if he's fresh enough.

Koo Ja Cheol -- Came on as a late sub but didn't particularly impact the match besides providing his usual scrappiness in midfield.  Augsburg was in control so he didn't have to do much and hopefully they take that confidence into this weekend, where Koo should start.

Hong Jeong Ho -- As mentioned before, HJH has a severe ankle sprain but looks to only be out for a while.  We'll see if he returns in time before winter break.

Suk Hyun Jun -- He should start.