Former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards believes Raul Jimenez is improving by the week, and reckons him featuring less than Diego Costa lately has been ‘harsh’.
Jimenez was back starting again for Wolves on Friday against Fulham.
The 31-year-old was deployed as the main striker, with Matheus Cunha playing just off him.
It was a combination that looked good, and Wolves were really purposeful in the first-half.
Cunha got injured and had to go off on a stretcher. But thankfully, it isn’t serious and Wolves fans will hope to see the pair play again together.
Jimenez was really good against Fulham.
He was a great focal point and showed some excellent touches to bring others around him into play.
It was great to see, given his struggles with his fitness this season.
In the eyes of Edwards, Jimenez is really starting to improve now and he was perhaps a bit unlucky not to feature more than Costa in recent matches.
He wrote in his latest Express & Star column: “It was good to see Raul Jimenez come in, he’s deserved some minutes. It’s perhaps been a bit harsh Costa has had the nod for minutes from the bench lately.
“Jimenez has improved week on week and it was good to see him put in a performance of old.”
Costa was sent on by Julen Lopetegui against Southampton, which was a decision that really paid off. Costa was instrumental in that comeback win.
He then got on earlier than Jimenez against Bournemouth.
Raul Jimenez is certainly improving for Wolves after early season fitness struggles
Edwards is right, Jimenez is definitely improving for Wolves. The £30 million star’s performance against Fulham was by far his best display of the season so far.
Maybe it was slightly harsh for him to not play as much as Costa against Southampton and Bournemouth.
But Costa was great against Southampton, and it was understandable he then got on sooner than Jimenez in the next game.
Following his display against Fulham, Lopetegui will surely be turning to the Mexican more often moving forward.