Boss admits Wolves are missing injured star striker Raul Jimenez

Boss Cesar Peixoto admitted Wolves are missing injured star striker Raul Jimenez, who is set to be sidelined until January.

It was confirmed on Wednesday evening that Jimenez will undergo knee surgery, ruling him out until early next year.

Speaking to the Express & Star after Wolves’ defeat to Bolton Wanderers, Peixoto acknowledged the impact of losing the Mexican forward.

He said: “Yeah, for sure. In a game like that, if you have Raul inside the box, it is different. It is different.

“We can put Raul and Adam, both of them (in the team), like I put on Sean (Neave) at the end of the game.

“It is different. He is a player inside the box, who knows how to move, knows how to score. It is different.”

Peixoto revealed Jimenez underwent a knee examination on Tuesday, but said he was yet to receive any further details at that stage.

However, in a major blow this evening (October 14), the club’s director of performance, Phil Hayward, confirmed that, following scans and consultations with specialists, the Mexican will undergo surgery on Friday after his recovery failed to progress as expected.

In Jimenez’s absence, Wolves lacked ruthlessness and suffered their first home defeat under Peixoto on Tuesday. Their struggles against newly promoted opposition also continued, with the loss extending their winless league run against such sides to seven games.