Wolves have officially finished their pre-season and will now turn their attention to the first Premier League game with Manchester United a week on Monday.
Julen Lopetegui’s side were back in action at Molineux yesterday against Rennes.
Rennes, having thrashed both West Ham United and Nottingham Forest recently, were supposed to provide Wolves with a stern test.
But Wolves really turned in an excellent performance.
Lopetegui’s side played some cracking stuff, creating chances and finally finding that finishing touch.
It was great to see so many superb individual performances, just a week before the start of the new season.
And one man who might just have given Lopetegui food for thought, is Hwang Hee-chan.
Hwang is in contention to start for Wolves against Manchester United
Lopetegui’s starting XI yesterday might just be the one that lines up against United on Monday.
But there could be scope for one or two changes.
And if there is, then Hwang will surely be in the manager’s thinking.
Yesterday, the South Korea started from the bench, but came on to replace Pedro Neto at half-time.
And Hwang was a real threat playing down that left side.
He was clearly playing with confidence having also done well against Luton Town in midweek.
His goal against Rennes was really well taken. He collected a brilliant reverse ball from Matheus Nunes, took a touch and then fired across the face of goal and into the far corner.
During the time he was on the pitch, Hwang was really lively and did his chances of starting against United absolutely no harm whatsoever.
Hwang to start vs United?
Lopetegui has a tough call to make ahead of that first game against United.
Neto has generally looked really good in pre-season.
But it is hard to ignore that last two displays from Hwang, who looks completely re-energised for Wolves.
He is a player Lopetegui really loves and has done ever since he arrived at the club. The 27-year-old is a brilliant team player who will always run his socks off.
Hwang is also very impressive physically. The former Liefering and Salzburg head coach Peter Zeidler once hailed Hwang as ‘exceptional’ and as having ‘brutal dynamism’ (via Bundesliga official).
He has always been really effective at pressing, but at the moment he looks a real threat too.
Potentially then, he could be the way to go against United – who are likely to have most of the ball at Old Trafford – rather than Neto.
With Hwang, you get a player who will work hard to regain the ball and then provide a good counter-attacking threat.
