Raul Jimenez faces a race to be fit for the World Cup as he continues to struggle with a groin problem.
It’s been a longstanding issue for the striker that medical staff have had to manage carefully in recent years, but it’s been more troublesome over the past few months.
After missing the opening two games of the season with a knee injury, Jimenez played against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Bournemouth at the end of August.
He has been absent since then, contributing to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ poor start to the season.
Never the most clinical of teams, they have scored just six goals in the Premier League so far, fewer than anyone else in the division.
They currently languish in the relegation zone, just above bottom side Nottingham Forest, having taken 10 points from their first 13 games.
Before his sacking at the start of October, Bruno Lage made it clear that his side was being hampered by a lack of strikers.
After the transfer window closed, former Chelsea man Diego Costa was belatedly brought in on a free transfer.
He has failed to find the net in his six appearances and was sent off for headbutting Ben Mee in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Wolves are desperate to get Raul Jimenez back fit having been their most reliable source of goals over the last four years.
The Mexican international recently returned to training and will look to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup to guarantee a place in Gerardo Martino’s squad.
Jimenez has scored 29 goals in 96 appearances for his country, including 12 penalties, since making his debut in 2013.
He has featured at the last two World Cups, albeit briefly as a substitute, and will be hoping for a more significant role this time around.
Mexico face Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C and will be looking to progress to the knockout rounds for the eighth tournament in a row.
