Matheus Cunha is having his break-out season in the Premier League for Wolves, finding the net eleven times in all competitions so far, and scoring an impressive hat trick against Chelsea recently. However, the Brazilian striker was forced off with a hamstring injury in the 23rd minute, as the Black Country side lost 2-0 to Brentford on February 10.
Wolves Suffer Matheus Cunha Injury Setback
How Long Will Matheus Cunha Be Injured?
Manager Gary O’Neil was cautiously optimistic over his striker’s recovery time, suggesting in his post-match interview that it may not be too serious, but caveating that with the fact that they could not know for sure the severity of the injury.
He said: “With Cunha, it’s too early to tell, he felt something in his hamstring. He seems to think he doesn’t feel too bad at this moment. But sometimes it can feel like that and be bad and sometimes they can feel bad and not be too bad.”
With the West Midlands side facing Tottenham Hotspur on February 17, it looks unlikely that the former Atletico Madrid man, who has been hailed as “phenomenal” by his fellow players, will be ready, as hamstring injuries often take a few weeks to heal at a minimum.
How Will O’Neil Replace The Injured Man?
Having failed to secure a number nine in the transfer window – a sore point for the club, as set out by Steve Madeley at The Athletic – The Wanderers are a little light going forward.
The return of Hee-Chan Hwang from the Asian Cup will lift Wulfrunian spirits, and the South Korean could have made the bench in their last outing, but for some soreness in his calf, according to the manager.
He said: “I would have thought he’ll train part way through next week and be available for next weekend.”
The Korean forward is not a like-for-like replacement for the Brazilian, looking more comfortable in the ten role or cutting inside from a wide position. However, the forward line has needed to be versatile all season, given the paucity of options.
Youngster Nathan Fraser came on at halftime in the last game and is the only player who fits the space Cunha left vacant. However, the academy product is very raw and would likely have been loaned to League One if a striker had been secured in the January transfer window.
Equally plausible is a start for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. The Frenchman, who signed for the club from Strasbourg in the summer is a midfielder by trade but has been deployed as a false nine in several games. Although many would say that the position does not make the most of his ball-carrying abilities and that he has failed to pose a real threat in the final third.
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