Romantic, I know, but I watched Son Heung-min's 13-minute hat-trick as a substitute against Leicester while on my honeymoon in Orlando, Florida, in September.

Murphy's Pub on International Drive was full of Tottenham fans on a Saturday lunchtime, many of them wearing 'Son' shirts and knocking back $7 beers, along with the odd $2 Guinness jello shot.

Like I said: romantic. But it showed how Son is loved by Spurs supporters. Not only in north London but everywhere – even in an American-Irish sports bar sandwiched between Gator Crazy Golf and the $1.99 Gift Store.

The appreciation is not exclusive to Tottenham, either. Son will go down as one of the Premier League's greatest two-footed players in the eyes of most football fans. Of his 23 goals last season, 12 were scored with his left foot, and 11 with his right.

And yet, last year's Golden Boot winner has endured a campaign that neither he nor his club saw coming. He's struggled for goals, scoring only four this term – three of those against Leicester in that 6-2 win.

That was the last time Son was dropped to the substitutes' bench by Antonio Conte while fit. It was a tactic which worked as he responded with those two curled efforts – one with either foot – and a counter-attack finish at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In the five months that have followed, he's scored only once in the Premier League – the chef's kiss in a 4-0 win at Crystal Palace. 

As Tottenham prepare to face Leicester in the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium, it is a reminder of how Son has not kicked on like Conte hoped he would.

Part of the problem is Tottenham have spent too much of this season trailing, conceding the first goal in 12 of their 22 games, too many of those early in matches. 

None of the Premier League's big six – not even the out-of-sorts Liverpool – have spent so many minutes behind to opponents.

When that happens, Spurs are the ones trying to get back into the game, and suddenly Son isn't afforded as much space to stretch his legs in the final third. 

Not like when Leicester helped him score that hat-trick. In their desperation to salvage something, they left gaping gaps for him to exploit.

2017-18: 50%

2018-19: 51%

2019-20: 54%

2020-21: 51%

2021-22: 50%

2022-23: 36%

But another problem has been Son's personal output. This season he's completed 16 out of 44 attempted dribbles, leaving him with a 36 per cent success rate. 

That's a rapid reduction on his previous numbers, having been north of 50 per cent in each of the last five seasons for Tottenham.

Confidence has dropped, while Harry Kane isn't dropping. Not as much as he was, anyway. Kane's ability to drop deep and play perfect passes into Son's path was commended last season. 

The greatest example came this time last year when Kane, from his own half, assisted Son in a 4-0 win at Leeds.

Whereas this season, Kane is staying further up the pitch in a more fixed position. Statistics show most of the Tottenham striker's touches per game are now coming from inside of the box, rather than outside. 

It is a tactical tweak that has impacted Son, who is missing those balls over his shoulder from Kane.

Son fronted up after that Leicester hat-trick in September, saying he wasn't happy despite taking home the match ball. 

'How can I be happy if I have an unbelievable opportunity to score or make chances?' he said afterwards. 'If I'm happy and I'm not scoring, I wouldn't be here.'

Tottenham's coaches insist they are happy, however. Conte and Co say it's more about Son's teamwork – the way he doesn't shirk his defensive duties, how he creates space for others, and so on. 

They were particularly pleased with his performance in last week's 1-0 win over Manchester City, following on from his brace in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Championship Preston.

But still, there is no hiding from how the man who helped himself to 23 Premier League goals last season has suffered a staggering collapse in form. As Son himself says, he won't be happy until he's scoring again.