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BREAKING
The huge Tottenham Hotspur mistake which finished winger's Pompey career - and ended 2026 World Cup dream
The 20-year-old featured for South Korea in November while on loan at Fratton Park
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It could have been a place at the 2026 World Cup finals, instead a former Pompey loanee is representing his country’s under-23s in a Thailand friendly.
Spurs’ shock decision to recall Minhyeok Yang from his Fratton Park stay has proven a huge misjudgement in the youngster’s development.
Certainly, on this occasion, the Blues should be absolved from any blame over the stalling of a Premier League youngster’s promising progress.
In recent times, the likes of Miguel Azeez, Dane Scarlett and Kaide Gordon have all failed to shine during Pompey loan spells, despite burgeoning reputations at big clubs and international youth football level.
In the case of Minhyeok, however, Spurs’ wish to sever a scheduled season-long loan at the halfway mark has hugely backfired - particularly on the 20-year-old’s career.
Iconic Charlton match-winning goal
At the time of his recall, the energetic winger had scored three times in 16 appearances for John Mousinho’s men since arriving from the Premier League in August 2025.
He had also been included in South Korea’s most recent international squad in November, appearing as an 85th-minute substitute against Bolivia for his second cap.
Admittedly, his Pompey starting involvement had begun to decline from a seven-game high during September and October, which produced Fratton Park goals against Watford and Middlesbrough.
Primarily operating on the left wing, subsequent attempts to switch him to the right fell flat and soon Minhyeok found increasing residence on the substitutes’ bench.
Indeed, what would prove to be his final touch in Pompey colours would be a cameo against Charlton which would yield that iconic 98th-minute winner at the end of December.
That was followed by 90 minutes left on the bench at Bristol City in a 5-0 defeat, then he was gone.
Surprise recall and bewildering destination
While Spurs’ decision to recall him five days later was a surprise, the destination was absolutely bewildering - Coventry.
The probability was the North London giants were concerned over Minhyeok’s development while embroiled in a relegation battle. In addition, perhaps they were worried over just nine Championship starts with the Blues.
Irrespective of the motive, however, he was moved onto the Championship’s leaders and proceeded to total just 29 minutes of league football.
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The statistics are brutal. Having been handed one minute off the bench against Oxford United on February 7, he never made another Sky Blues squad, an absence which spanned the final 15 games of the season.
The same January transfer window had seen former Pompey target Jahnoah Markelo and Crystal Palace loanee Romain Esse also recruited to bolster Frank Lampard’s attacking options.
Joining Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jack Rudoni and, of course, Yang, suddenly the right-wing spot was hugely congested, with the Spurs man proving to be the fall guy.
His sole Coventry start was an FA Cup defeat at Stoke, while he featured three times in the league, all off the bench - and not a minute of match action after February 7.
World Cup absence
Previously involved with South Korea during his Pompey spell, ominously Minhyeok Yang was called up to their Under-23s’ training camp in March rather than senior duty.
Last month, ahead of the Asian country’s 11th consecutive World Cup finals appearance, he was left out of the Korea Republic’s 26-man squad.
Instead, Minhyeok lined up for South Korea’s Under-23s’ friendly in Thailand on Saturday, where they twice battled back from behind to claim a hard-fought 3-2 success.
Having also faced United Arab Emirates’ Under-23s this month, it’s a summer schedule viewed as crucial preparation for the 2026 Asian Games, which take place from September.
In the meantime, five UK-based players will be involved in the Korean Republic’s World Cup finals campaign in America, Mexico and Canada, including Hwang Heechan (Wolves), Yang Hyunjun (Celtic), Eom Jisung (Swansea), Bae Junho (Stoke) and Paik Seungho (Birmingham), plus Son Heung-min, now with Los Angeles FC.
However, there’s no room for Minhyeok Yang - the player recalled from Fratton Park by Spurs in January.
Your Next Pompey Read: 'We were champions of England. I left because I missed mum's cooking': Portsmouth's oldest-living player Peter Higham
Related topics:PompeySouth KoreaPremier LeagueTottenham Hotspur
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