A relief for Midlanders.
At the end of the season, it will be difficult to argue against Gary O’Neil’s nomination for Manager of the Year, assuming it is warranted. The former Bournemouth manager has guided Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation to mid-table, and he may not be finished yet, with one star’s return expected to provide a significant boost in his side’s unlikely quest for European football.
Wolves injury news
While the media has focused on Newcastle United’s growing injury list, Wolves have quietly been dealing with their own injury issues, which has resulted in a terrible run of results. After his team’s 2-0 loss to Aston Villa a few weeks back, O’Neil was furious, acknowledging that the game may have finished differently if not for injuries.
O’Neil told the official Wolves website: “We were ahead in a lot of areas, more shots, more possession, greater xG away to Aston Villa, and with the attacking guys we’re missing, it makes a tremendous difference today.
“Let us not undervalue the players who gave their all and had some good moments. But if you had Pedro Neto, Cunha, Bellegarde, and Channy [Hwang] in some of those moments with the xG we had, I’m sure we’d have converted more.”
He is finally about to get some of his frustrations resolved. According to O’Neil and Liam Keen, Hwang Hee-chan will return to the Wolves squad for today’s game against Nottingham Forest. The striker will be eager to resume his scoring streak immediately after his injury.
On Nuno: "I'm familiar with the incredible work he did here. A fantastic journey and the fans are very fond of him. He's an excellent coach and has showed some good signs at Forest." #wwfc
— Liam Keen (@LiamKeen_Star) April 12, 2024
The South Korean has missed Wolves’ previous five games, during which they have won one, lost three, and drawn two, highlighting how crucial he is to O’Neil’s side. His comeback, however, comes at a bad moment for Nottingham Forest, who are currently fighting for survival.
“Fantastic” Hwang the key for Wolves
Even if Hwang does not start right away, the fact that Wolves have such a player to introduce off the bench gives them a significant advantage. With 11 goals in 24 appearances for Wolves this season, few players outside of the Premier League’s top six have been as clinical as the attacker.
With seven games remaining, he has the opportunity to propel Wolves into the top half of the table while also bringing his goal tally closer to that of the best players in English football. Hwang, who has already outscored Diogo Jota, Julian Alvarez, and Rasmus Hojlund this season, will try to make another impact against Forest.
