Hwang Hee-Chan is currently on Asia Cup duty with South Korea and there is one Wolves star who must step up in his absence.
Hwang Hee-Chan is enjoying an excellent season at Wolves.
Gary O’Neil is getting the best out of the talent they signed from RB Leipzig two years ago following a rocky start to life at Molineux.
The South Korean sharpshooter has plundered 10 goals in 20 Premier League appearances this term, keeping him hot on the heels of the league’s most prolific forwards; Mohamed Salah & Erling Haaland (14), Heung-min Son (12) and Jarrod Bowen (11).
The 27-year-old has deservedly received plaudits for his stellar form with Paul Merson hailing him as “underrated” and would be a “dream” for any manager in the world.
At the start of the campaign, Wolves were tipped by many to be battling against the drop but it’s down to the form of Hwang and many others that have propelled O’Neil’s side towards a challenge for Europe with only three points separating them from seventh-place Brighton.
Unfortunately, Hwang is now on Asia Cup duty with South Korea and if his country go deep into the tournament, he could miss up to six matches.
Given O’Neil’s squad is already down to the bare bones, this is a bitter pill swallow for the Wolves manager, who doesn’t have many players to call upon to replace him.
He does, however, have Pedro Neto at his disposal after returning from injury and the Portuguese superstar must now show his best form in Hwang’s absence.
Pedro Neto has to step up for Wolves
There’s a reason why the £50k-a-week ace is being linked with some of the Premier League’s top sides – including Liverpool and Arsenal.
The 23-year-old is magnificent on his day and O’Neil needs to see that side of him in the coming weeks.
Although he doesn’t possess the same level of goal threat to Hwang, per se, he is still an incredibly gifted footballer who was in the form of his life prior to sustaining an injury.
In 11 top-flight matches this term, he’s produced seven assists. Only Ollie Watkins and Salah (8) have supplied more in that time, though they have played nine games more than the Portuguese.
It’s such form that has seen O’Neil hail him as “incredible” and if he does pick up where he left off before his injury, it will be a bittersweet situation for Wolves.
Whilst he can help galvanise their potential European challenge, he’d also be placing himself further into the shop window, but with that form will come a bigger price tag.
Hwang leaving for the Asia Cup deals a huge blow to the Old Gold, but the return of Neto is a timely one as supporters look forward to watching him dazzle defences once more.