Wolves boss Gary O'Neil insists they cannot sign new players to cover for departing international stars.

The Premier League side are hoping to bring in a forward during the winter window.

However, O'Neil knows that finances are tight and that securing replacements for Asia Cup and Africa Cup of Nations departees will be tough.

The tournaments will see Hwang Hee-chan, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Boubacar Traore miss game time.

“The plan will be to do as well as we can when they're gone, and when they come back, to do as well as we can do again," O'Neil said.

“The tournaments they're away for are five, six weeks, so you can't just sign a load of players to make up for those away for that time.

“We'll do the business we plan to do in January – whatever that may be – and then deal with the fact that players are away.

“I'm sure other teams will have players who are away at these tournaments as well.

"It will be another test on the depth and quality of the group, but it's part and parcel of it. I'm sure there will be loads of teams up and down the country that are losing the same sort of numbers.

"But with Channy's goalscoring numbers and what he's been so far, losing him will test us.

"January gives us an opportunity to hopefully do something about those situations, but then also we have people sat there raring to go and desperate to show what they can do."