Raul Jimenez Injury Update: Key Setback for Wolves Ahead of Black Country Derby

Wolves have been hit by a major setback on the eve of the Black Country derby, with Raul Jimenez ruled out after suffering a knee injury in the Carabao Cup defeat at Everton.

The 35-year-old Mexico striker, who has quickly re-established himself as a central figure since returning to Molineux in the summer, damaged his left knee during Wednesday night’s 1-0 loss at Goodison Park and had to be taken off.

Head coach Cesar Peixoto cannot yet put a precise timescale on Jimenez’s absence, but accepts he will be missing for “a few weeks” – starting with Sunday’s showdown against West Bromwich Albion.

“Raul has injured his knee,” Peixoto 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 could hardly be worse for Wolves. Jimenez has already scored three times since his return from Fulham – two penalties and, most recently, a late winner at Sheffield United on Sunday, his first from open play this season. He was building rhythm. He was deciding games.

Now he misses the fixture that still defines seasons in this part of the Midlands.

Jimenez has never featured in a Black Country derby. He sat out both meetings in the 2020-21 campaign while recovering from the fractured skull he suffered against Arsenal, and just as the prospect of finally facing Albion loomed, injury has struck again.

Peixoto was asked after the defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium whether he had considered resting his veteran forward with West Brom in mind. The answer underlined just how important Jimenez has become again.

“He had to play to stay in the rhythm to play on Sunday,” the Wolves boss said.

Instead, Wolves must now plan for their fiercest rivals without their main striker, hoping the international break gives Jimenez enough time to come back ready for the next phase of the season.