New Wolves head coach Julen Lopetegui is ‘worried’ after Raul Jimenez was included in Mexico’s World Cup squad despite not playing since August.
Former Sevilla and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui officially took charge of Wolves on Monday, but he will have to wait until the World Cup break to start his first game.
Jiménez has only made three Premier League appearances this season, for a total of 211 minutes, after struggling with a groin injury, but was still included in the roster of 26 Mexico players to travel to Qatar.
Lopetegui says the Wolves are four points behind a safe spot at the bottom of the top division table and his main concern is to have a key striker to use after the break.
“The most important thing is not the World Cup, but the Wolves,” Lopetegui said during his first press conference in England.
“I talked to Raul, I’m worried about him because he doesn’t play for a minute with his Wolves team.
“We need everyone, but we need Raul’s uniform and the best version. I hope he returns here in the same way. I respect the decision of the player and the coach, but first of all for me it’s Wolves.
waited