---
title: "Wolves: Julen Lopetegui ‘worried’ about Raul Jimenez"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-premier-league-julen-lopetegui-raul-jimenez-injury-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-11-15T17:45:49Z"
modified: "2022-11-15T17:45:49Z"
---

# Wolves: Julen Lopetegui ‘worried’ about Raul Jimenez

**New [Wolves](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-news/) manager Julen Lopetegui is ‘worried’ about Raul Jimenez’s current injury situation, as relayed by reliable journalist Liam Keen.**

### The Lowdown: Jimenez’s fitness woes

The Old Gold have played their final match before the World Cup, with Lopetegui officially taking charge on Monday and now getting to know his squad.

One player who won’t be around over the next six weeks is Jimenez, who is part of [Mexico’s squad](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63628700) in Qatar, despite his injury woes for Wolves this season. The 31-year-old has [only started two matches](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/108186/Show/Ra%C3%BAl-Jim%C3%A9nez) in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) in 2022/23, with [fitness problems](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raul-jimenez/leistungsdaten/spieler/206040) consistently holding him back of late.

### The Latest: Lopetegui concerned about Jimenez

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/LiamKeen_Star/status/1592132477518499840?s=20&t=d0yLllBTc-WXANQNxj7XUQ), Keen relayed a press conference update from Lopetegui that the Wolves manager is concerned about Jimenez, having spoken to the Mexico striker to voice those worries, adding that the 31-year-old shouldn’t be risked during the World Cup.

Keen tweeted:

> “Lopetegui also says he has spoken to Raul Jimenez and says he is worried about his injury situation. Says Wolves is more important than the World Cup and he wants the striker back fit for the club.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=“398117″\]

### The Verdict: Final season at Wolves?

It is essential that Mexico don’t take risks with Jimenez in the coming weeks, only playing him if they feel he is fully fit.

If not, it could have a long-term impact on his career, given the [serious injuries](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raul-jimenez/verletzungen/spieler/206040) he has suffered over the last couple of years.

\[freshpress-poll id=“399044″\]

The post-World Cup period feels like a crucial one for the striker at Wolves – if he returns and can’t rid himself of his injury problems, Lopetegui could feel he isn’t worth persevering with into the future.

In truth, Jimenez has [never quite been the same player](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/108186/History/Ra%C3%BAl-Jim%C3%A9nez) since [fracturing his skull](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55125293) almost two years ago, which is quite understandable given its severity, and with his current deal [expiring](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raul-jimenez/profil/spieler/206040) in 2024, vital decisions may need to be made next summer.