Bruno Lage makes promise to Ki-Jana Hoever after Wolves boss blasted former Liverpool star

Bruno Lage has promised to give Ki-Jana Hoever another chance at Wolverhampton Wanderers after giving the defender a public dressing down last weekend.

Wolves head coach Lage singled Hoever out for criticism following the 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Molineux on Saturday.

Hoever - who was only playing due to an injury to first choice Nelson Semedo - picked up a hamstring strain 20 minutes into the game and Lage suggested the Dutchman’s problem was caused by poor preparation.

Tensions have risen between Lage and Hoever behind-the-scenes in recent months, and sources within the defender’s camp admit his long-term future at Molineux is now in doubt.

But Lage is willing to wipe Hoever’s slate clean after clear the air talks with the former Liverpool man.

"It was a good talk and I will be the first guy here to work with him,” said Lage. "I will give him another chance. There's not too many managers that would give him a big chance after what he did against Liverpool but he started against Chelsea.

"It was a good talk, face to face and after with the team, and Ki knows that he will have another chance with me. We move on.”

Hoever is one of nine players under the age of 23 in Wolves’ first team squad - and he wasn’t the only starlet Lage alluded to in his scathing post-Palace blast. But the 20-year-old is the only player Lage called out publicly for “not preparing the way they should prepare.”

Lage’s words split supporters at the time, although it must be said that the vast majority backed the head coach’s decision to air the dressing room’s dirty laundry.

Asked whether he regrets it, Lage replied: "I'm not the first manager to do that and I don't think I'll be the last.

"It was a good talk and it's clear now. They