Raul Jimenez has made his first appearance for eight months in Wolves’ pre-season friendly against Crewe today.
It is new boss Bruno Lage’s first game in charge and he put Jimenez back in right from the off before removing him after 33 minutes in what was clearly a pre-planned change.
Speaking on the Facebook coverage of the game before kick off, former Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo had his say.
He was effusive in his praise of Jimenez, who hasn’t played a single minute of football in 2021.
“We’ve all missed him. I just got goosebumps when you said he was back in the team,” he said of Jimenez. “That’s like a £60 million signing – that’s an understatement for what he does, what he brings.
“For him, it’s just about getting used to being out there, getting comfortable. Getting through that time, however long he’s on the pitch.
“It’s great that he’s back. He was massively missed. You can’t really emulate what he brings. When he walks into the training ground or whatever stadium – he is the man.
“All those players will be buzzing for the fact they can bounce it into him and they’ll be hoping it goes well for him today.”
The key for Jimenez was getting through the game and starting to get his sharpness back.
He will give the whole club a lift and return to being a talisman under Lage if he stays fit.
That should take the pressure off the likes of Fabio Silva and allow Francisco Trincao to settle.
Is he a £60 million player? You’d be hard pushed to disagree. He’s certainly worth his weight in gold to Wolves.
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