In the space of six weeks, one of the Premier League’s strongest departments has been plagued by fitness woes and a mid-season move from Wolverhampton Wanderers could be regretted.
Bruno Lage had his four wingers in tow as Wolves began their five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League in Brighton on 15 December.
Hwang Hee-chan, Daniel Podence and Francisco Trincao started the game before Adama Traore had to be replaced with an injury that has kept the South Korean on the sidelines ever since.
Wolves have managed without Hwang but Lage has had to face Norwich City in the FA Cup with just one of the aforementioned wingers.
Traore has now, of course, left Wolves to join Barcelona on loan in view of a permanent move, while a positive Covid-19 test ruled Trincao out of the game.
Video is loading
Video not available
Click to play
Touch to play
The video will start playing automatically soon8thInterrupt
Play Now
Trincao is set to return, as will Hwang in the coming weeks – and Lage believes Pedro Neto is also not far off his long-awaited comeback.
But Lage will no longer be able to turn to his bench and see one of football’s greatest game-changers. Barcelona boss Xavi will now have that luxury instead.
New signing Chiquinho – a 22-year-old winger with 15 appearances in Portugal’s top flight – has taken Traoré’s place in the squad. But he certainly won’t be seen as a direct replacement for the speedy Spaniard.
Lage’s refusal to use Chiquinho against Norwich from the start saw Wolves play a 3-5-2 formation on home soil, with midfielder Leander Dendoncker pushing forward to provide attacking support for Podence and Fabio Silva.
READ: Wolves player ratings vs Norwich as Bruno Lage’s toothless attack disappoints
READ: Bruno Lage admits Adama Traore ‘had his own ideas’ in Wolves exit talks
“It’s important to understand that I can’t ask Chiquinho to do the same things that Adama has done, especially over the past month,” Lage said on Friday.
“In the last month Adama has helped the team a lot when he jumped off the bench.
“He was very good against Manchester United, he scored against Southampton and he also scored that (uncredited) goal in the last minute against Brentford.
“I cannot ask such things from Chiquinho.”
Lage finally rolled the dice and debuted Chiquinho, who was the Wolves’ most experienced attacking option on the bench after Raul Jimenez.
The winger showed promise in a 15-minute cameo and whipped in a couple of welcoming deliveries, but Lage has repeatedly insisted he is “more forward-thinking than present”.
“He’s a player for now, but he’s more for the future,” reiterated Lage ahead of the Norwich game. “We will give him the chance to train with top players in this environment and then the chance to play in the Premier League.”
Lage admits Wolves had little choice but to agree to Traoré’s departure given his contract situation, but a lack of investment in the squad in January left the boss with no options.
When Lage goes into a crucial doubles fixture against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur next week, he could only have a senior winger available.
For more Wolves news, features and analysis, subscribe to our free daily newsletter HERE
