Bruno Lage’s Wolverhampton Wanderers squad has, on Saturday, been dealt a fresh blow on the personnel front, during their Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace.
The player forced out of proceedings? Ki-Jana Hoever.
Amid something of a stop-start campaign to date, youngster Hoever was afforded just a 4th league start up against Palace, in a wing-back role on the right of boss Lage’s back-five.
The Dutchman, however, lasted just 25 minutes, before pulling up with a fitness problem:
Hoever’s down holding what I believe a medical professional would call his “right leg”. Jonny warming up.
— Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) March 5, 2022
In turn, after being tended to by the hosts’ medical team, Hoever was eventually left with little choice but to limp out of proceedings, replaced by Jonny Otto on Wolves’ right flank.
We’re forced into an early change. Hope it’s nothing serious, Ki. 👊#WOLCRY pic.twitter.com/1rjzeEseD7
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 5, 2022
Eagles on top
The latest personnel problem to have struck their ranks actually marks just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Wolves’ woes thus far on Saturday afternoon, though.
This comes with a dismal performance having left Lage and co. in a two-goal hole heading into the interval.
Opening the afternoon’s scoring for Palace was Jean-Philippe Mateta, before Wilfried Zaha made it two from the penalty spot just beyond the half-hour mark.
Crystal Palace double their lead!
Schlupp was fouled in the box by Kilman and Zaha is there to convert from the spot 😎 pic.twitter.com/3S8dATVdaw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2022
Wolves, as a result, will need to step up in a major way over the course of the 2nd 45, to be in with any shot of avoiding a 3rd successive defeat, and seeing their shot at European football dealt what could prove to be a fatal blow.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Crystal Palace live streaming: Watch Premier League online
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