Wolves club doctor provides injury update on Raul Jimenez

Wolves' club doctor has confirmed Raul Jimenez is making good progress as he continues his rehabilitation from a skull fracture and that he expects the frontman to play a full part in Wolves' 2021/22 campaign.

The 30-year-old hasn't featured for Nuno Espirito Santo's side since suffering a shuddering head injury away at Arsenal last November.

Some feared Jimenez may never play again following the collision with David Luiz, though recent pictures of him greeting his teammates at the Wolves training ground looked positive.

And club doctor Matt Perry has now confirmed via the club's official website that all is going well with his rehab and he expects the forward to play a full part for Wolves next season.

“We hope and expect that Raul will be able to play a full part in Wolves’ 2021/22 season," the statement read.

“Raul was seriously injured six months ago on 29th November and underwent emergency surgery for a major traumatic brain injury and skull fracture (TBI) at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington.

“Since then, he has been under the care and supervision of his neurosurgeon at St Mary’s, Miss Sophie Camp, and Professor Tony Belli of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, as well as the medical team at Compton.

“His skull fracture has now healed well; he will wear a protective headguard to cover the area of bony injury for the remainder of his career, but it is adjudged strong enough for him to return to play with this protection.

“A brain injury such as concussion can take weeks and months to recover fully and TBI will sometimes leave lasting deficits. It is wonderful to be able to say that Raul has made a remarkable and excellent recovery to date.

“He has no measurable signs of deficit and is now at the stage when he can contemplate a return to the career he loves; but a degree of caution is still required."

The club doctor added that Jimenez has stepped up his training regime in his bid to be fit and ready for the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, while offering his thanks to the medical professionals who helped save Jimenez's life.

“Raul has been able to progress from basic fitness work into full competitive training from early March; only holding back on powered heading and aerial duels," he added. "He has now received the all clear to start these activities and is physically as fit, strong and agile as ever.

“Further match-based rehabilitation will start in July and will be tightly controlled initially. This respects the fact that although his recovery appears to be total there is a big step from training to competition.

“We are hugely grateful to Professor Tony Belli and Miss Sophie Camp with their guidance and advice on his management, and Miss Camp and her colleagues at St Mary’s for the life and career saving surgery in the few hours that followed Raul’s initial injury."