Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a major boost regarding Raul Jimenez’s future availability.
What’s the latest?
According to a report by Birmingham Live, the government’s recent decision to take all countries off of the UK’s red list for foreign travel has handed Bruno Lage’s side a significant boost regarding the centre-forward’s availability, as the 30-year-old will no longer be required to quarantine upon his return from international duty with Mexico.
Gerardo Martino’s side are due to face Panama in World Cup Qualifying next February, a fixture which, prior to the recent changes, would have resulted in Jimenez having to quarantine for 10 days upon his return to the UK. Mexico are also set to take part in a number of international friendlies in the coming months, which could also have seen the striker ruled out of a number of Premier League fixtures due to the previous red list rules.
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Lage will be buzzing
Considering just how important a part of the Wolves first team Jimenez has proven himself to be in recent seasons, with returns of 17 and 27 goals in his first two campaigns at Molineux, the news that he will be free to travel to and from international duty with Mexico without restriction is sure to have left Lage buzzing.
Indeed, while the forward has not exactly been in the best goalscoring form of his career in the current campaign, the £25.2m-rated marksman has nevertheless impressed over his nine Premier League appearances, scoring one goal, registering two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 2.1 shots and making 2.2 key passes per game.
These returns have seen the player who Nuno Espirito Santo dubbed a “special” talent average a SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as the club’s joint fifth-best performer in the league.
As such, the fact that Lage will no longer have to worry about the striker being unavailable due to travel restriction rules will certainly come as a major boost for the 45-year-old, who will undoubtedly be hoping that the £41k-per-week Jimenez can fire his side to a top-half finish this season.
In other news: Lage must unleash £40k-p/w Wolves “outstanding talent” who could become “a top player”