Tottenham attacker Heung-min Son has revealed Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy had a big influence on his career.

Son, 24, left South Korea to move to Hamburg's academy at the age of just 16 in 2008.

And there he got the assurance from former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy — who by then was playing for Hamburg — that would help him become Asia's biggest football star.

Son said: “When I was at Hamburg, aged 17 or 18, Ruud van Nistelrooy signed and he helped me a lot. He saw my first training session and talked to me.

“He told me I was a good player. He gave me confidence and I want to thank him.

“We had a really good team and were successful for a time.

“I was only young. I listened to him and tried to learn from what he was saying."