The Tottenham Hotspur captain's armband will be without its permanent custodian for a number of weeks, as Son Heung-min bids to lead South Korea to another long-awaited Asian Cup title.
The 31-year-old signed off in North London with his 12th Premier League goal of the season in the weekend's 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth, helping Ange Postecoglou's men march to their fourth win in five top-flight matches, but international glory now takes precedence over a top-flight title charge.
Son has already tried and failed to help South Korea to Asian Cup stardom on three occasions - placing third in 2011, losing the 2015 final to Australia and suffering quarter-final heartache in 2019 - and the Tigers of Asia are now bidding to end a miserable 64-year streak without continental glory.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the Tottenham matches Son could miss while South Korea strut their stuff in Qatar.
© Reuters
South Korea have been placed in Group E of the Asian Cup with Bahrain, Jordan and Malaysia, kicking off their bid for glory against the former on January 15, five days before a Jordan-sized test awaits in Doha.
The Tigers of Asia round off their group-phase sequence against Malaysia on January 25, meaning Son will certainly sit out two matches for Tottenham in January, starting with Friday's FA Cup third-round tie at home to Burnley.
While South Korea's Asian Cup campaign does not commence for another 12 days, the Taegeuk Warriors will battle Iraq in a warm-up friendly this Saturday, and Postecoglou has already confirmed that Son will therefore not be at his disposal for the FA Cup clash with the Clarets.
One day before South Korea play their opening Group E match against Bahrain, Tottenham face an intriguing Premier League contest with an off-colour Manchester United on January 14, but the Lilywhites will then enjoy the luxury of a 17-day rest period before hosting Brentford on January 31.
© Reuters
Son would likely be available to face the Bees if South Korea are eliminated in the group stage, but Jurgen Klinsmann's men are firm favourites to seal top spot in their section without much difficulty, while second and potentially even third place could also provide a ticket to the knockout phase.
With the last-16 matches taking place from January 28 to January 31, Son would miss that London derby assuming South Korea progress as expected, and the quarter-finals will then be played across February 2 and February 3; Tottenham travel to Everton for a lunchtime kickoff on the latter date.
Spurs then have a seven-day break before hosting Brighton & Hove Albion on February 10, which Son could be available for if South Korea lose in the semi-finals - scheduled for February 6 and February 7 - and unlike in the Africa Cup of Nations, there is no third-placed playoff in the Asian Cup.
However, Tottenham would be forced to cope without Son once again if South Korea reach the final - which takes place on the same say as Spurs' battle with Brighton - meaning that the Lilywhites captain may not touch back down in North London until the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 17.
