Nuno still ‘totally confident’ of Raul Jimenez return this season
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo remains ‘totally confident’ Raul Jimenez will play again this season following surgery on a fractured skull.
The 29-year-old star striker has recently stepped up his recovery at Compton by taking part in parts of group sessions and doing some ball work
He has not been involved in contact training yet but Nuno – having said last month he was ‘truly positive’ we would see the Mexican again in 2020/21 – was still positive when asked about his comeback.
“The speed is the speed that we need to follow,” said Nuno.
“We have to be very aware of the circumstances and not rush – avoid any kind of contact.
“He has been able to participate in the initial part of training sessions, and just being with his team-mates is a big help for everybody.
“We are following the right protocols, but we are delighted Raul is getting better day by day.”
And on him being back in action for Wolves this campaign, Nuno added: “Totally confident, for sure.”
In the absence of Jimenez, Pedro Neto has emerged as Wolves’ top scorer and earned lots of plaudits for his displays.
But Nuno was keen to point out Neto, at 20, is still very young and has a lot of learning ahead of him.
“He has a lot of things to improve,” he said.
“He’s so young. He has talent, but he has many, many details in his game he can do better – and he knows.
“He’s having a chance that is very important, playing every game.
“He is able to compete and grow as a player. Pedro has had this chance and taken very good advantage of it, because he’s progressing.
“But don’t aim too far. We just go step-by-step.”
Nuno, meanwhile, has expressed his delight on how the club’s Feed Our Pack campaign has gone so far.
The Portuguese pledged £250,000 of his own money to help combat food poverty in Wolverhampton, and he added: “It’s going well.
“During the February half-term, the project provided more than 1,500 meals.
“For the Easter half-term, it will be 3,000 because that’s help which people need.
“We’re just trying to help, and the donations from our fans have been fantastic – more than £40,000. Helping people is what it’s all about.”
