Wolves have enjoyed an impressive season under the guidance of Gary O’Neil however, there is a sense of what could have been for the Old Gold if injuries hadn’t struck.
When Gary O’Neil took charge of Wolves just days before the start of the 2023/24 campaign, not many would have thought that the Englishman would have such an impact on the Old Gold.
At the point of his arrival, the Midlands club were in a significant financial mess, leading to Julen Lopetegui’s departure over Fosun’s inability to support the Spaniard with making necessary repairs to his frail squad.
Key players left to generate profit but were unable to be replaced, leaving Wolves short on depth and quality going into the 2023/24 campaign, contributing to O’Neil’s side’s recent dip in form.
Earlier this year, there were talks of Wolves securing a spot in Europe next season as they climbed the table, aspirations that have all but ended due to concurrent injury woes causing a void to appear in the squad’s favoured XI.
The exciting form of a host of players at the start of the campaign has been restricted due to injury, with one name seeing his season decimated by absences.
Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan was backed to break records this season
The season started remarkably for Hwang Hee-chan, who scored 10 goals before the close of 2023, seeing him poised to have a stellar scoring campaign for Wolves.
Injury free, full of confidence and thriving in O’Neil’s system, the Korean was putting in the best performances of his Wolves career however, it all came crashing down at the start of 2024 to the disappointment of many.
Speaking to Express and Star ahead of Wolves’ fixture with Bournemouth, journalist Matt Maher admitted that he envisaged the 28-year-old breaking records for the Old Gold this term.
“ I was going into the record book looking at the last Wolves player to score 20 in a top-flight season, I think you had to go back to John Richards in 1974.
“I was looking at these stats months ago because Hwang was playing that well and you thought actually, he’s got a chance to get in there.”
Things could have been so different for Hwang and Wolves this season
As Hwang departed Molineux to participate in the Asia Cup, his form left with him, as the Korean is still yet to score in the Premier League for Wolves in 2024.
The striker struggled with injury through the tournament, returning with a slight issue and then later down the line, suffered a hamstring injury, causing his playing time to buffer.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Hwang Hee-Chan
Touching on Hwang’s injury woes, Maher expressed his sympathy for both player and club in a season made up of ‘what might have been’.
“Of course, the injuries have happened. It’s been hugely frustrating all around because you do wonder, not just individually but as a collective, what might have been achieved this season had Wolves had a lot more luck.
“It would be good to see Hwang and Wolves have a good end to the season because it would be a shame for this to just fizzle out through a lot of bad luck.”
With Bournemouth visiting Molineux this evening, there will be hope that Hwang can rediscover his form in front of goal and end his impressive season on a high.
