Raul Jimenez Injured Before Black Country Derby
Wolves have suffered a major setback on the eve of the Black Country derby, with Raul Jimenez ruled out after injuring his left knee in the Carabao Cup defeat at Everton.
The 35-year-old striker, who has quickly re-established himself as a central figure since returning to Molineux in the summer, was forced off in Wednesday night’s 1-0 loss at Goodison Park. His absence comes at the worst possible time, with West Bromwich Albion due at Molineux on Sunday in one of the club’s most emotionally charged fixtures of the season.
Jimenez blow before derby
Head coach Cesar Peixoto confirmed the injury after the game, admitting the news had hit the dressing room hard.
“Raul has injured his knee,” he told BBC Radio WM. “It is not too bad. But we are all frustrated because he is a key player for us.
“He will stay injured for a few weeks. But we have this break for the internationals to recover, so he will stay with us.
“These kind of things can happen in the game or a training session. We don't control these kind of things.”
The timing of the first international break of the campaign offers a small consolation. Wolves expect Jimenez to miss a few weeks, but the pause in club action should cushion the number of matches he sits out.
Form interrupted
Jimenez’s setback comes just as he had begun to build momentum. Back at Wolves after three seasons with Fulham, the Mexico international has already scored three times this term: two from the penalty spot and, most notably, a late winner from open play at Sheffield United last Sunday.
That goal at Bramall Lane looked like the moment his second spell at Molineux truly sparked into life. Now, the rhythm Peixoto was desperate to maintain has been abruptly cut.
Asked whether he had considered resting Jimenez at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to protect him for the derby, Peixoto was clear.
“He had to play to stay in the rhythm to play on Sunday,” the Wolves boss said.
Instead, Sunday will come too soon.
Derby wait goes on
The injury also delays Jimenez’s long-awaited taste of the Black Country derby. He missed both league meetings with Albion in the 2020-21 season, still recovering from the fractured skull he suffered against Arsenal.
Four years on, the fixture has returned. Jimenez, again, will watch it from the sidelines.
For Wolves, the task is stark: find a way to replace their “key player” in one of the most unforgiving fixtures on the calendar, or risk seeing the early tone of their season set by a rival’s roar at Molineux.
