Hause Glad To Be Back

Defender keen to take his chance

Kortney Hause has admitted it is great to be back as he reveals he had to show all his mental strength to come through his hamstring injury.

The 20-year-old defender had been on the sidelines since picking up the injury in October, and, after returning at left back at Brentford, came off the bench in his more favoured centre back role to replace the injured Ethan Ebanks-Landell at Middlesbrough on Friday.

With the unfortunate Ebanks-Landell now ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken metatarsal, Hause will be looking to return to an extended run in the team as he enjoyed in the first few months of the season.

“It’s great to be back playing,” he says.

“As every player will tell you, it’s the worst thing ever when you are not playing and not involved.

“So it is good to be back playing.

“As much as football is about tactics and physical strength, I think you have got to be mentally strong in this game as well.

“You are going to have ups and downs, and knockbacks and setbacks and it is the strong players who come through the bad patches.

“It has tested me mentally being out but I think I have come through it alright.

“I have been to watch a lot of the games and I think that is important because you can always pick up little things and learn from watching.

“Also I think it is important to show support to the lads and for me it is crucial to watch even if I can’t get involved.

“It was just that it wasn’t my time to be playing and even though I was wishing I was out there it was still important to go to the games.”

It is one of the ironies of football that Ebanks-Landell got his chance in the team when Hause was injured, and that now the roles have been reversed.

But Hause is as disappointed as anyone with the bad news received by his defensive colleague.

“Football is a crazy game,” he says.

“I was having a decent run and performing to a decent standard and then got injured which was very frustrating.

“And Ethan was performing well week-in week-out and having a good run and unfortunately then he got injured.

“As a footballer that can happen and then the opportunity goes to someone else.

“I’m gutted for Ethan that he got injured because I am wanting everyone to kick on and achieve big things.

“But I just have to take my chance and can’t wait to be involved and hopefully stay injury-free as well.”

Wolves welcome a Bristol City side tonight who have won their last three away games, and also beat Wolves 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Ashton Gate back in November.

Hause believes the whole team need to build from solid foundations but also not be afraid to play with freedom and express themselves going forward.

“Our home form hasn’t been good over recent weeks, up until the game against Derby,” he said.

“It is important that we have a solid game tomorrow but then also express ourselves and be a bit more brave higher up the pitch.

“We need our attacking players to get on the ball and show the fans what they have got because we have got some good players here.

“Maybe that is partly down to confidence but the way I look at it you can’t let that affect you.

“It can be difficult in a bad run to have that confidence or perform but you have to just find that click from somewhere and go for it.

“You have got to go out there and express yourself and play with freedom.

“As a team we are always looking to win games.

“We have never gone into a game thinking we can’t get anything out of it.

“We are confident we can get something out of every game and we have to take the last 11 on an individual basis and try and pick up as many points as possible.”

 

*Wolves sponsors and local firm Techworx are offering one lucky supporter the opportunity to WIN a signed shirt or ball and to meet two members of the first team squad on the afternoon of Tuesday 15th March 2016.