Wolves look strong in 1-0 win over Manchester United

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Joao Moutinho celebrates after scoring his side's only goal during a Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday. [AP/YONHAP]

Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Manchester United 1-0 on Monday, moving just three points behind the No. 7 team in the Premier league standings.

Felipe Joao Moutinho did the damage for Wolves, smashing home the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute. Wolves continue to play without Korean striker Hwang Hee-chan, who is out for the month with a hamstring injury.

The win puts Wolves just a few points behind United in the Premier League standings. Wolves are eighth with eight wins, four draws and seven losses, just behind United with nine wins, four draws and six losses. The two clubs will next face the 13th- and 14th-ranked teams, so the race is likely to remain tight for the time being.

Hwang was sidelined after suffering an injury on Dec. 15 in the early stages of a Premier League clash with Brighton. He left the pitch in the 12th minute of the game after a collision with Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey. Brighton were awarded a free kick, and Hwang attempted to continue playing but left the pitch moments later, grabbing his thigh.

It appeared from replays of the incident that Hwang's toe may have got stuck in the ground, causing a brief hyperextension, likely leading to a hamstring injury.

It wasn't until two weeks later that Wolves gave an update on Hwang's status, announcing that he had sustained a hamstring injury and would be out of action until February.

Wolves will be back in action on Sunday with a game against with an FA Cup third round game against Sheffield United.

Hwang probably won't be back in the squad until the Feb. 10 game against Arsenal at the earliest, after the international break. His status at that point could well have changed — the Korean striker could prove popular in the January transfer window, with Wolves and a number of other clubs said to be considering a more permanent deal.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]