Wolves attacker Hwang Hee-chan has been ruled out of South Korea’s opening game at the World Cup against Uruguay.
The 26-year-old will miss his nation’s crunch clash with the South Americans at the Education City Stadium, in what is a major blow.
And it is a big frustration for Hwang himself, who will be hoping for a big few weeks in Qatar.
Hwang has struggled at Wolves in recent times.
The star has struggled for minutes this season following the arrivals of Goncalo Guedes and Diego Costa.
He started the first two Premier League games for Wanderers. But wouldn’t start again until the Brighton match earlier this month.
Hwang remains one of South Korea’s best players. But he will not have any involvement against Uruguay tomorrow.
Supposedly, he has some discomfort in his left hamstring.
The Korea Times reported last night that he had missed a team training session Tuesday. Instead, he rode a stationary bicycle and did individual workouts indoors.
This came after Hwang had done strategic drills with the rest of his teammates.
Korea head coach Paulo Bento ruled Hwang out of the game in his press conference (via Express & Star).
A shame for Hwang Hee-chan as reports suggest Wolves star won’t play for South Korea against Uruguay
It is a real shame that Hwang won’t feature against Uruguay for South Korea.
This is an important time now for the former RB Leipzig man, who could do with a strong tournament.
He’s struggled for the majority of 2022 at Molineux, and has appeared to lack confidence.
With South Korea, he is one of the main men and he will have been relishing playing on the biggest stage.
Hopefully, this issue won’t rule him out for Korea’s other group stage games against Ghana and Portugal.