Why Wolves Have To Be Wise And Find A Permanent Solution To One Key Problem In The Transfer Window
Wolverhampton Wanderers were expecting Joe Mason back in early January from his loan spell at Burton Albion, however, it has been revealed that the Championship striker has spent time in the hospital due to an inflamed appendix.
The 26-year-old forward agreed to a deal to stay at the Pirelli Stadium until January 2nd but in fact, hasn’t played for the Brewers since November having suffered from the illness.
Reportedly, Mason is now out of the hospital and is recovering well, however, when he will be allowed to play again is not certain and given that he was due back with Wolves for the second half of the season means he may well have been in Nuno Santo’s plans.
His inflamed appendix kept him in the hospital for several days according to Wolves’ sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who says he is already back at Compton, starting his recovery. Thelwell is maintaining contact with Burton Albion and expects Mason’s recovery to happen around the time he would be due back at Molineux, perhaps suggesting he was to be called into the Wolves first-team pool.
The form of on-loan hitman Leo Bonatini is such that the club may have scrapped initial plans to bring in a marquee striker in January and instead aim simply to cover the Brazilian, a job Mason could adequately do.
Mason played only 6 times in the league for Burton during his loan spell, notching just one goal but his overall performances were coming along nicely and he’d naturally get far more chances in this Wolves side than what he got at the Pirelli.
With that in mind, the promotion favourites will certainly need to think about bringing in more striking cover for Bonatini at a time when a good winning run could effectively seal them the Championship title.
True, there is great support from deeper and wider positions in the likes of Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa and Diogo Jota but there is no substitute for a proper frontman and Bonatini is growing into that role more and more every week.
Even a side like Wolves needs a focal point to their attack and should Bonatini be injured or suspended at any point, Wolves will begin to realise how much they need him to keep their title charge on track.
A number of options will no doubt be considered and Mason may yet get a chance in this team once he is fully fit. But with no guarantee of what his performance level will be like following such a debilitating condition, it would be wise for Wolves to take no risks.