Max Kilman has lavished praise on Wolves star Hwang Hee-chan, after the forward scored his eighth Premier League goal of the season.
Wanderers got back on track on Tuesday night, beating Burnley 1-0 at Molineux.
It was an important win after suffering back-to-back defeats against Fulham and Arsenal, and there is now an 11-point gap down to the relegation zone.
Wolves were not at their best, but a moment of quality from Hwang was the difference on the night. His goal, and a terrific double save just before from Dan Bentley were the key moments.
Hwang is in the form of his life and after the game, he came in for praise from captain Max Kilman…
Max Kilman hails ‘phenomenal’ Wolves teammate Hwang Hee-chan
It’s nine goals in all competitions for Hwang, which already makes this his best-scoring season for Wolves.
Hwang has delivered since the start of the campaign, but has only really starting getting his due credit from neutrals since the injury to Pedro Neto.
He’s come into the limelight much more in the last couple of months, but Kilman says Hwang has been brilliant all season. He also mentioned how Hwang is feeling much more comfortable at the club these days, which may be a reason for his upturn.
He said: “He’s been phenomenal. Even when he’s not scoring, he’s still chipping in and helping the team, and he’s really excelled this season. Credit to him and credit to the boys who are trying to find him the pass, Cunha, Pedro [Neto], Pablo [Sarabia], they’ve been really trying to help him with that, but Channy’s been phenomenal this season.
“Gary’s given him a bit more confidence. I think Channy was in and out of the team for quite a lot last season, but this season he’s been playing a lot and he’s really taken his chances when he got back into the team. He’s playing with much more confidence, he’s playing on the front foot, and he’s been creating chances for himself and his finishing has been really good this season.
“Since he came into England a couple of years ago, he’s taken time to settle because learning English was new to him, but he’s picked it up really well, he’s a really good lad, very polite, a very good guy, and that’s credit to him so he deserves it all.”
What a player
Hwang has been Wolves’ star man this season.
While Pedro Neto has also been amazing, it is ultimately all about scoring goals and winning games – something Wolves have sometimes had real trouble with since Nuno Espirito Santo left the club.
Hwang scoring eight league goals so far is a fantastic achievement and he deserves all the plaudits he is getting.
It hasn’t always been easy for him. As Kilman says, last term he was in and out of the team, and he’s had periods of poor form at the club and some injuries.
But he is thriving now under O’Neil, and to see this happening for such a humble person is fantastic.