‘Obviously I’m not happy’: 21-year-old admits he could leave Wolves in January after lack of minutes

Joe Hodge has opened the door to a loan move away from Wolves in January if he continues to struggle for minutes.

So far in 2023/24, Hodge has made just one appearance under Gary O’Neil.

That came in the Carabao Cup match against Blackpool.

Hodge actually went off injured in the game, but it was just before the last international break. So he was actually only unavailable for selection for a few games in total.

Hodge was back on the bench against Manchester City.

But he didn’t get on, and he was then left out of the last squad against Aston Villa, with Tommy Doyle coming back in after being unable to face his parent club.

Hodge admits he isn’t content with his level of involvement at the moment, and is ready to leave in January if things don’t change…

Joe Hodge comments on his lack of game time at Wolves

Hodge has given an interview with the Express & Star about his current predicament.

At the moment, he is arguably bottom of the pecking order for midfielders at Molineux.

Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes are nailed on starters.

Boubacar Traore has been getting cameo appearances here and there, and there are also new signings Doyle and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde vying for minutes.

Hodge says: “Obviously I’m not happy with where I am at, at the moment. I want to be doing more than I am doing at the moment and feel I’m capable of that.

“There are still a few months left until January. I’m going to do my best to get into the team, but if there’s no change then I think I will be looking to go out and get some minutes because I think that’s the most important thing for me at the minute.

“The last 12 months have been a hundred times better than what the previous few years were, so I can’t have any complaints about that. Obviously, the last six months have not gone the way I wanted them to, for the most part, but that is through no fault of my own.”

Hodge also makes an interesting comments about former manager Julen Lopetegui, who really rated the youngster.

“Had the old gaffer stayed (Julen Lopetegui), things would probably have been a little different for me now,” he adds. “But I guess that’s just the way things go. Nothing has changed in the way I am keeping myself going. I’m pushing to get myself in the team.”

Fair play to Joe Hodge

Hodge should be commended for this comments.

All players want to play, and it’s nice to hear Hodge just being honest about his situation.

It is not the first time he’s said about wanting to play more at Wolves. In pre-season he had said he wanted to be a regular at Molineux.

He knows he needs to be playing, and it’s good that he has swung the door open for a potential January loan move.