Expert issues verdict on Wolves signing Hwang permanently in Jan after ‘long-term’ injury reveal
It would be a “big surprise” if Hwang Hee-chan’s “long-term” hamstring injury derailed his potential permanent switch to Wolves.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Hwang, who is on a season-long loan from RB Leipzig, has not played for Bruno Lage’s side since the 1-0 over Brighton on 15 December.
Wolves revealed in an official update last Monday (27 December) that the South Korean forward is “expected to return in February.”
Asked by the Express and Star last Friday (31 December) whether Hwang’s injury would affect plans to sign him, Lage said: “In my opinon, no.”
Wolves have a £14million option to sign Hwang permanently in summer (2022) but are understood to be keen to get a deal over the line this January.
Dinnery explained how the 25-year-old’s rehab will be handled and why it will likely not have a major impact on a permanent deal.
“With any long-term injury, you’re looking at it on a day-to-day basis,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Recovery from any injury now is done with regard to activity-based programmes rather than strict timelines.
“It’s all about working through those activities and making sure he can complete them comfortably without any kind of reaction.
“You’re not overloading the muscle and you’re hoping he won’t have any adverse pain.
“The hamstring plays such a major role in kicking and explosive movements, it’s one that you can’t really take any shortcuts with.
“The winter break comes at a good time for him. There is an opportunity for him to take step back and ease into this recovery process.
“He is a player who hit the ground running and is hoping to make that switch permanent.
“This will be disappointing in that regard. But it would be a big surprise if this impacted that deal.
“With Covid and the winter break, it won’t impact his game time too much.”
Hwang has netted four times since his loan move to Molineux.
He scored 45 goals and registered 29 assists in 126 appearances with parent club Leipzig.
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