Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has spoken for the first time since suffering an injury that almost ended his career.
Raul Jimenez said “It feels amazing to be back after eight months, it feels like it was my first time out on a pitch again. I’m so happy to be back here. When it happened I received a lot of messages, a lot of support, a lot of love. I just want to thank the fans for their support. It’s been a long time since I played my last game and they’ve been there for me since the first minute. I received a lot of cards from people, from all over the world – from China, from Mexico, from New Zealand and in the UK a lot of people have sent messages to me. Sometimes I’d go walking with my wife, my daughter and my dogs, and the people wished me to be well soon – all that support, all that love they gave to me, feels really amazing.”
Despite being back into training, the Mexico international revealed he is not yet prepared to compete a 90-minute match.
Raul Jimenez said “I think physically, it’s going to come. Being honest, I’m not ready for 90 minutes but I’m almost there.”
He is gradually increasing his workload and is happy with his progress, adding: “I’ve been playing 30, 60 – in the last game the other day 70 minutes. So it’s coming.
Raul Jimenez said “I think I’m fully recovered. It’s been a long, long time. The doctors say I’m good. Every game, every training session, they ask me how I am. I’m ready to go.”
Jimenez will have to use protective headwear to cover the affected area for the rest of his career.
Raul Jimenez said “You have to get used to the headguard. It was difficult the first times. The one I have been using is a prototype. We have made some specifications on a new one which we’re waiting to arrive. I like it now.”
With just under two weeks until Wolves’ opening league fixture away to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, Jimenez will continue to build up his workload slowly, with one final pre-season friendly game at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday, August 7. The striker managed to compete 73 minutes in Wanderers’ last outing to Stoke City, getting on the score-sheet after a long-awaited return to playing. The Mexican suffered a fractured skull during the Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates last November and had to undergo a major operation. After eight months recovering, Jimenez has returned to training where he has integrated into Bruno Lage’s pre-season training camp ahead of the new campaign.
