Wolves defender Ki-Jana Hoever felt the wrath of Bruno Lage earlier this month, and the youngster may not get a chance to redeem himself.
The former Liverpool man had to go off during the first-half of the defeat to Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury.
After the game, Lage pulled no punches and effectively questioned Hoever’s professionalism.
“I have too many kids in my team, sometimes they don’t work the way they should work,” he blasted (via Goal). “They don’t prepare the way they should prepare.
“It’s just not for Ki, it’s more kids in our team who need to understand I don’t waste time with guys who don’t work hard every day to improve.”
The comments took a lot of people by surprise. Staff were said to be shocked by what he said.
Lots of people had an opinion about whether he was right or wrong to dig him out in public.
The frustrating thing for Hoever is that he isn’t available right now to try and get back in the good books.
And recent update from Wolves just said that the 20-year-old ‘continues to rehabilitate’ and is ‘progressing as expected’.
It is unclear when exactly he’ll be available again.
But when he does return, he could find it difficult to actually play.
Jonny Castro Otto has really looked a lot better in recent weeks after a shaky first few outings after returning from injury.
The Spaniard is starting to look like his old self again.
And Nelson Semedo – superb all season – is now back in modified training and will soon be available again.
Ki-Jana Hoever might struggle to earn reprieve at Wolves
Lage did say that he spoke to Hoever and the group after his comments post-Palace. He said that everybody understood where he was coming from, and he also actually said that Hoever would have another chance with him (Birmingham Mail).
But it’s hard to see he’ll play given the quality of the two others in his position.
Perhaps if one picks up another injury, or Wolves aren’t pushing for Europe with a few games left to play, we could see him.
But it’s going to be difficult.