In search of playing time, Hwang will miss his first game since joining Norwich City on a year-long loan from the English Championship. With less than 24 hours having passed since his signing was officially announced, it is likely that he will be available after the international break.
“We are delighted to announce the signing of South Korea international Hwang Eui-jo on loan from Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season,” Norwich City said in a statement on the club’s official website on Sunday (February 2), adding that he will wear the number 31 shirt. Hwang, who made his European debut with French side Girondins Bordeaux after leaving Gamba Osaka in 2019, has been one of the top strikers in Ligue 1 of the French top flight, scoring double-digit goals in two consecutive seasons, including 12 in 2020/21 and 11 in 2021/22.
With Bordeaux subsequently relegated, Hwang tried his hand at the Premier League with Nottingham last season, but failed to play a minute in Nottingham red after loan spells with Olympiakos and FC Seoul, and is hoping to turn things around at second-tier Norwich.
Hwang’s arrival coincides with Norwich’s final game before the international break.
Norwich will host Rotherham United in the fifth round of the 2023/24 Championship at the AESSEAL Stadium in Rotherham, England, at 11:00 pm. With three wins and a draw (10 points), Norwich are in second place in the 24-team Championship behind Leicester City (12 points), who are on a four-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Rotherham, who were promoted from the third tier in 2021/22 and finished 19th last season, are 21st in the table, just above the relegation zone, having drawn one and lost three of their first four games this season.
Hwang Ui-jo completed his registration the day before on Monday, but is not expected to be fit to play. Norwich boss David Wagner has named his starting 11 and nine reserves for the trip to Rotherham. Wagner will start 33-year-old Ashley Barnes, a longtime Brighton and Burnley player, and Irishman Adam Ida, who has been playing as a joker.
Hwang arrives at Norwich after a disastrous spell at Nottingham this season, where he was left out of the opening Premier League matchday squad, was nominated for two second-round games and one subsequent League Cup tie, but did not play, and sought a loan move. The last time he played in an official match was in the 19th round supermatch of the season against K League 1 Suwon Samsung on June 24 at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Hwang will miss the game, but Norwich will have high hopes for him. U.S. international Josh Sargent has been the main source of goals up front, but he could be out for an extended period of time with an injury. Sargent’s injury is the reason why Idaho started against Rotherham.
Sargent, born in 2000, recently suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out for three to four months, according to Norwich. Sargent has scored three goals in four Championship games this season, so his extended absence could be devastating.Initially, Hwang Ui-jo was not on Norwich’s shortlist of potential replacements, but Wagner reportedly took an active interest in the South Korean striker’s profile and eventually settled on him.
While Hwang has struggled at his club over the past year, he has played three seasons full-time in the French Ligue 1, one of Europe’s five biggest leagues, and has scored 17 goals in 55 appearances for the club, so there are many observers who believe he could easily rack up the goals for Norwich if given regular playing time.
Hwang will join Jürgen Klinsmann’s squad to face Wales in Cardiff, England, on Sept. 9 for the first of two A matches. On the 14th, the team will prepare for their second A 토토 match of the month against Saudi Arabia in Newcastle, England. Improving his form in A matches is a positive for Norwich.
Upon his return to the club, Hwang will face three consecutive weekend, midweek and weekend matches, including a home match against Stoke City, where U-20 World Cup quarterfinalist Bae Joon-ho joined the club, on the 16th, a home match against Championship favorites Leicester City on the 20th and an away match against Plymouth Argyle on the 23rd.
