Wolves striker Raul Jimenez is back training at Compton Park, after his recent trip to Mexico.
The 31-year-old was recently permitted to return to his homeland in order to work with the national team’s medical staff.
Jimenez has been contending with a groin injury that he has been struggling with since the end of pre-season.
He’s only been able to make four appearances for Wanderers so far this term.
He has not featured since the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth at the end of August.
Jimenez flew back to England last Friday, after spending a few weeks back in Mexico. Wolves permitted that so the player could work in a comfortable setting and be close to family.
He apparently worked with doctors from Mexico, Wolves and Los Angeles.
The star is determined to return to fitness, with the World Cup starting in just a few weeks’ time.
There is still no return date for Jimenez. But he has been back on the grass at Compton Park as revealed by the club’s official website, which is a good sign.
The pictures released by the club show the former Benfica star training outside, although it looks like he has only done light ball work.
He is not shown with the rest of the group.
Wolves’ other long-term injury victims, Pedro Neto, Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho are all pictured in the gym.
Centre-back Toti Gomes can also be seen working outside although again, it looks as though he has just done some individual work. He’s missed the last three matchday squads.
Wolves could do with Raul Jimenez being fit again, but he may not feature before World Cup
This is good to see, but it could still be a little while until Jimenez is ready to play games again.
Jimenez’s situation has been rather strange. The lack of communication around it has been somewhat frustrating.
Some fans have been speculating that Jimenez might not actually play for Wolves again. With the World Cup now so close, some believe that is his main focus, and that he might be ‘saving himself’ for the tournament.
And he has been linked with a move to Club America recently, and some have suggested he might be off in January.
Hopefully that isn’t the case, and Jimenez is itching to get back on the pitch for Wanderers.
It could be a cynical point of view. The club have said that Jimenez has been struggling long-term with a groin issue so, he probably needs to take extra care.