Hwang absence addressed by Gary O'Neil as Wolves boss discusses transfer plans

16 December 2023 , 01:30

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Hwang Hee-chan will play in the Asian Games in the New Year (Image: Getty Images)

Gary O’Neil says Wolves won’t strengthen in January to plug gaps caused by international call-ups.

The Molineux chief faces losing three of his first-team squad in the New Year - including leading scorer Hee-Chan Hwang - for up to six weeks. Hwang will be at the Asian Cup with South Korea while midfielder Boubacar Traore and Rayan Ait-Nouri are likely to be called-up for Mali and Algeria respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations.

O’Neil has already admitted he will be looking to sign a genuine spearhead for his attack in the New Year. But he has ruled out making any decision due to the trio being away from the Black Country club until, potentially, the middle of February.

He said: “I expect a few of our lads to be away through January – possibly Boubacar Traore, Rayan and Channy.

“The plan will be to do as well as we can when they’re gone, and when they come back, to do as well as we can do again.

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“They could be missing for five or six weeks at these tournaments - you can’t just sign a load of players to make up for those away for that time.

O'Neil will lose three players from his Wolves squad in January (Richard Bowcott/IPS/REX/Shutterstock)

“We’ll do the business we plan to do in January – whatever that may be – and then deal with the fact that players are away. I’m sure other teams will have players who are away at these tournaments as well.”

Neil Moxley