Following Raul Jimenez’s sickening clash of heads with David Luiz back in November 2020, many Wolves fans anticipated there would be struggles ahead.
The Mexico international has been nothing short of sensational for Wolves since arriving in the Black Country, initially on loan, back in 2018.
The £30 million star (BBC Sport) hit 17 goals and laid on eight assists in his first campaign, and followed that up with 27 and 10 in an ever better 2019/20.
During his time at Molineux he’s slowly carved out a reputation as being one of the Premier League’s best all-round centre-forwards.
It is little wonder, therefore, that Wolves have had trouble scoring while he’s been recuperating from his fractured skull.
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The man is quality, and not only does he get the goals, he makes other players around him better.
Arguably one man who has suffered the most as a result of Jimenez being sidelined is Adama Traore.
The Spaniard, like Jimenez, had a brilliant 2019/20, but seems to have lost his way this time around.
It’s now March and he still has no goals or assists in the Premier League, which is amazing to think about given what he’s capable of.
He has been criticised by several pundits so far this season, but Tim Sherwood has theorised the lack of Jimenez has been hurting him.
He said on Sky Sports: “I have seen £40 million being thrown around. That’s too much.
“He’s one of those that gets you very excited, but nevers goes the full yard, you know?
“It think the crosses he put in last year, Jimenez put them in the back of the net. It made him look better because he had a finisher there.”
Sherwood may well have a point. Traore has indeed created chances in 2020/21 and is one of the most potent dribblers of the ball in Europe.
But with no Jimenez to get on the end of his crosses to convert, there is a significantly reduced potential for Traore to record an assist.
One of Jimenez’s biggest strengths is his movement and aerial prowess, so to have that missing is a killer for Traore.
That said, few excuses can be offered for his lack of goals, and he generally does need to step things up.