Wolves Face Setback as Raul Jimenez Injured Ahead of Black Country Derby

Wolves have suffered a major setback on the eve of the Black Country derby – Raul Jimenez is out.

The 35-year-old striker damaged his left knee in Wednesday night’s 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Everton and had to be withdrawn, leaving Cesar Peixoto to reassess his plans for Sunday’s showdown with West Bromwich Albion.

The timing could hardly be worse. Jimenez has been central to Wolves’ early-season work since returning to Molineux in the summer after three years at Fulham, scoring three times – two from the spot and, most notably, last weekend’s late winner from open play at Sheffield United.

Now he faces “a few weeks” on the sidelines.

“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.”

A derby still out of reach

For Jimenez, the injury carries an extra sting. He has yet to play in a Black Country derby.

He missed both league meetings with Albion in the 2020-21 season while recovering from the fractured skull he suffered against Arsenal, watching from afar as Wolves and West Brom met behind closed doors in the post-Covid campaign.

This weekend was supposed to be different. His late winner at Bramall Lane had sharpened his touch and his confidence. The derby stage finally beckoned.

Instead, Wolves must go into one of their defining fixtures without the man Peixoto openly calls “a key player”.

Risk that backfired

Peixoto was asked after the loss at Everton whether he had considered resting Jimenez at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to keep him fresh for Sunday.

The answer underlined how important the Mexican remains to his plans.

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

The gamble was clear: give Jimenez minutes in the cup to keep him sharp for Albion. The cost is now just as clear. Wolves will head into the derby without their focal point, and Peixoto must find a new way to land a blow in one of English football’s fiercest local battles.

The international break offers a sliver of relief and recovery time. The question is whether Wolves can ride out the storm without Jimenez long enough for him to make a meaningful return to their season.