Wolves striker Raul Jimenez set to play in pre-season friendly next month in his first match back since fracturing his skull EIGHT MONTHS ago
- Raul Jimenez could return for Wolves during their friendly with Crewe in July
- The Mexican striker has not played since he fractured his skull in November
- He is set to meet new boss Bruno Lage when he returns to training on July 5
Raul Jimenez is in line to make his comeback for Wolves next month after a career-threatening injury that has kept him out of action since last November.
The Mexican fractured his skull when Wolves won 2-1 at Arsenal and did not play again for the rest of the season, though he was cleared to return to full training in the last week of the 2020-21 campaign.
Wolves are scheduled to face League One club Crewe at Gresty Road on July 17, which could be Jimenez’s first game in front of a crowd since that match at Emirates Stadium.
Raul Jimenez is set to return for Wolves next month during a pre-season friendly with Crewe
Prior to that, there is likely to be a behind-closed-doors friendly against opponents who have yet to be announced.
Jimenez has been spending time in Mexico during the off-season, with those Wolves players not playing for their countries this summer due to return for pre-season training on July 5, where they will meet new head coach Bruno Lage for the first time.
Meanwhile, veteran midfielder Joao Moutinho is a target for Porto.
The Mexican has not played since fracturing his skull in a match against Arsenal in November
The 34-year-old has one more year left on his contract at Molineux and Porto believe Wolves would be open to allowing the Portugal international to return to his homeland.
The clubs have a good relationship, with Wolves spending £35million on forward Fabio Silva last summer and also signing midfielder Vitinha on loan.
Wolves are keen to reconfigure their midfield by bringing in extra pace and athleticism to suit Lage’s preferred 4-4-2 formation, and Moutinho’s long-term midfield partner Ruben Neves is a target for Arsenal.
Jimenez has been training in Mexico to prepare for his return for Wolves this coming season
