Former Wolves striker Raul Jimenez meets his old side for the fourth time since making the switch to Fulham.
An icon from his time at Wolves, Jimenez led the line with ferocity and was one of the best strikers in the Premier League during his peak years.
He scored 30 goals across his first two league campaigns and was a major player for Nuno Espirito Santo as Wolves finished 7th in both.
Wolves fans loved seeing Jimenez reach 200 Premier League appearances back in September.
Now 34, he plies his trade at Craven Cottage, scoring 12 goals in his first full season after returning from a horrific head injury. He still has that goal-scorer’s ability, but he has struggled when faced up against his old side.
Raul Jimenez has never scored against Wolves or Fulham in the Premier League
The Mexican is a prolific finisher, but for some reason doesn’t show up in this fixture. Jimenez said Molineux is his favourite stadium, but he hasn’t found joy there or at Craven Cottage.
While at Wolves, he played Fulham four times, never scoring. And he hasn’t scored in three league clashes against Wolves since leaving.
Some might say it’s out of respect, but that’s rubbish. Jimenez loves a goal.
If he doesn’t score this time, this fixture will become the one he has played the most without finding the net, a record I’m sure he would love to avoid.
Wolves might be lucky though, if an update from Friday’s press conference is to be believed.
Raul Jimenez not certain to start against Wolves
If Jimenez takes to the field on Saturday afternoon, there will be just one thing on his mind — scoring against his old side.
But the ‘if’ is necessary after Marco Silva claimed Jimenez is a doubt.
That would be a shame. Even in the opposition’s jersey, it would be nice to watch the striker in action again.
Silva has praised Wolves’ quality, and claimed their position in the table isn’t reflective of how good they are. There is always the chance he is looking to mislead to gain an edge, given the lack of detail or justification for Jimenez’s absence.
We’ll see very soon.
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