Wolves have been struggling in the last couple of weeks – and Andy Thompson believes Hwang Hee-chan’s recent dip has been harmful to the team.
Wolves crashed to a 3-0 defeat against West Ham United, with Gary O’Neil‘s side putting in a really poor performance.
Vladimir Coufal should have been sent off for the hosts just before half-time, but Wolves did not deserve any points as a result of their display.
There were too many sloppy balls, too many instances of poor defending, with Toti Gomes really struggling, and not enough invention in the final third.
It was only the second time this season that Wolves have failed to score in a Premier League game – and it was another fairly quiet afternoon for top goalscorer Hwang Hee-chan…
Andy Thompson says Hwang Hee-chan has been non-existent in Wolves’ last two games
Hwang has been enjoying the season of his life in 2023/24, having scored eight Premier League goals so far. He also has one in the Carabao Cup, which Wolves are now out of.
The South Korean has been brilliant this term and looks to be relishing playing under Gary O’Neil.
But Hwang didn’t score in his last two outings against West Ham and Nottingham Forest, and was pretty ineffective. He did bag the winner against Burnley, but Hwang had another quiet game at Molineux against the Clarets.
Former Molineux full-back Andy Thompson is slightly concerned by Wolves’ form at the moment, and does feel Hwang’s influence is waning.
He said (Wolves Weekly): “Hwang has had a great season so far with the goals he’s scored. But the last couple of games, he’s been nonexistent. Because, either the supply to him, his movement or where he is on the pitch… he just hasn’t been able to get into the game.
“Is that a reflection on the way we play? Maybe. But we’ve got to get him into the game somehow.”
Hwang may soon need a rest
Hwang looked pretty fatigued against Nottingham Forest, and then on Sunday at the London Stadium it was another pretty quiet display from the 27-year-old.
Hwang has been amazing this season, but there may now be a danger of running him into the ground.
We know that O’Neil absolutely adores him and wants to play him at every turn, having branded him ‘excellent’ back in October, but perhaps he will soon need rotating amid this hectic period.
The last thing Wolves need is for a vital player like him picking up an injury – and we know that Hwang has picked up a few knocks since coming to Molineux.