Hwang Hee-chan becomes Wolves' new hero after showing his weight in gold in Burnley win

After the £140 million summer sales at Wolves, new heroes were needed and Hee Chan Hwang is worth his weight in old gold.

Hwang now has eight Premier League goals for the season and is proving indispensable for Gary O’Neil, with the South Korean forward also close to signing a new contract.

With Wolves under pressure to raise money over the summer in order to comply with financial rules, many of their stars departed but it has enabled Hwang to take front and centre.

A £14 million signing from RB Leipzig in January 2022, he epitomises the energy of O’Neil’s new team and his winning goal here was another fine finish.

Wolves have opened negotiations over a new long-term deal and it is understood talks are advanced with the 27 year old.

O’Neil said: “Channy is a fantastic professional and guy, and his numbers are incredibly impressive.

“Will he continue to score goals at this rate? I hope so, if the team can continue to provide him with chances.

“When the ball flashes to him in the penalty area, I always fancy him to score. He arrives in good areas time and time again, eight goals is a really impressive return.”

Hwang’s decisive contribution was enough to settle a tight contest, as Burnley were consigned to their 12th defeat in 15 matches.

Vincent Kompany, the Burnley manager, cut an agitated figure for much of the night.

Luca Koleosho, the winger, withdrew with an injury late in the first half while they were frustrated by an excellent double save from Dan Bentley who denied Jay Rodriguez and Josh Brownhill.

Kompany said: “We had our moments and didn’t take them. I’m seeing a team that is alive and in games fighting.

“We have to believe that playing this way will get us results. If you go through our last five or six games we’ve created a lot of chances.

“I’m not going to feel sorry for us at all but that is where we need to step it up.”

Wolves are now unbeaten at Molineux in five matches and have already beaten champions Manchester City and Tottenham this season.

O’Neil’s team would also be even higher up the league table if they had not suffered a number of bewildering Var and refereeing decisions.

Their difficult start to the season seems a long time ago now, and the Wolves hierarchy firmly believe O’Neil will play a huge role in the club’s future over the next three to four years.

With a centre-forward to be targeted in the January transfer window, Wolves are unlikely to be worrying about the relegation trapdoor.

They made the breakthrough three minutes before the break when Hwang took the ball from Matheus Cunha and calmly placed his shot across James Trafford.