After bright start, Hwang struggling in English Premier League

Wolverhampton's South Korean winger Hwang Hee-chan, right, vies for the ball against Burnley's defender Jack Cork during the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Dec. 2. / AP-Yonhap

By John Duerden

It has been an interesting season in England for Hwang Hee-chan but it is in danger of ending on something of a low point. The South Korean forward joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in August and settled into the English Premier League with amazing speed. He came off the bench as a substitute in his first game against Watford in September and scored as Wolves won 2-0. At the start of October, he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United and later that month he found the target once more against Leeds United.

Four goals in his first five games in what is regarded as the world's toughest league? Any player from anywhere would be delighted with such a return especially in a team, like his, that does not score that many. Hwang was the talk of Wolverhampton and turning heads around England.

The initial deal was for Wolves to borrow the player from RB Leipzig for the season. He was so impressive however that in January, the club activated the release clause in his contract so it could buy the player outright for around $20 million. The South Korean is now contracted to the midlands club until the summer of 2026.

Everybody was happy. The club had secured, relatively cheaply, the services of a player who had shown that he has what it takes to score in England and Hwang had his wish to move to the most popular domestic league in the world granted. The problem is that since that goal against Leeds, the 26 year-old has scored just once, against Arsenal in February. The hamstring injury he picked up against Brighton in December ruled him out for a few weeks and that has not helped.

The pressure is rising though. It doesn't help that the Wanderers have lost six of the nine games in the league from February to April 24 meaning that the general mood is not great. Hwang has looked a little lost recently and was criticized by the media and fans after a poor performance in the recent 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Burnley. The local newspaper gave the player just five out of ten, the lowest of the entire team.

“Frustration is growing amongst supporters at Hwang's recent performances, and understandably so,” went the comment. “The 26-year-old isn't offering a great deal to Wolves' attack and should count himself lucky that [Pedro] Neto is lacking the match fitness to start games.”

Most players will go through poor spells at some point in their careers. The important aspect is how they handle themselves when the situation is not looking good and how they bounce back. Hwang would love to finish the season with another goal or two to head into the summer break feeling full of confidence and to get the fans and media back on his side.

Hwang has a long-term deal with Wolves and if this season ends on a sour note, it will increase the pressure on his shoulders at the start of next season.

The Chuncheon-born forward has already shown that he can find the net in England. He just needs to find some of that early form and get scoring for his team in a more consistent manner in order to dispel much of that growing pressure.