After opting for a challenge at Nottingham Forest this season, Hwang has yet to make his league debut, and the club’s latest signing has pushed that debut even further away.
Having moved to Nottingham ahead of the 2022/23 season, Hwang spent time on loan at Olympiakos and FC Seoul last season before returning to his original club this summer, determined to make his Premier League debut.
With a strong showing in Seoul, he was eager to make his debut when pre-season began. In his first pre-season game, against Notts County, he made a strong impression, scoring a minute into the second half. Clearly impressed, Hwang started the next match against Valencia and played the full game, but was held scoreless. The team lost 0-1.
However, after that first game, Hwang fell silent again. In three consecutive matches against Levante, Leeds United, and PSV, he started on the bench and came on as a late substitute. He returned to the starting lineup in a friendly against French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes on March 3, playing around 83 minutes, but was again silent and unable to prevent a 0-5 defeat. He didn’t play at all in the final friendly against Frankfurt, raising concerns once again ahead of the start of the season.
As the season progressed, Hwang eventually became less central to the team’s plans. He was left off the opening rosters for Nottingham and Arsenal in the 2023/24 season, and was included on the substitutes’ bench for the second and third rounds against Sheffield United and Manchester United, but did not start.
As a result, Hwang is unlikely to be given a chance until the team’s main strikers are lost to transfer or injury.
The latest piece of good news for Hwang was the rumored departure of one of the team’s main strikers, Brennan Johnson. With the departure of Harry Kane, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Brentford have been linked with a move for Johnson, leaving a gaping hole in the front line. 먹튀검증
The 2001-born striker is a versatile player who can play anywhere between left and right winger, center forward, second striker, and attacking midfielder with his explosive pace. He has been a consistent fixture in Nottingham’s attacking lineup this season, so it’s not out of the question that Hwang would be able to slot into one of those spots if he were to leave.
However, following Johnson’s departure, those hopes have been dashed as Nottingham look to add to their squad in the winger and striker positions where Hwang could play.