Wolves vs. West Brom: Raul Jimenez ruled out of Black Country derby, Cesar Peixoto justifies EFL Cup risk

By Darren Plant | 17 Sep 2026 10:41, Last updated: 17 Sep 2026 10:43

Wolverhampton Wanderers caput manager Cesar Peixoto has insisted that Raul Jimenez "needed to play" successful Wednesday's EFL Cup necktie astatine Everton.

Ahead of Sunday's Black Country derby with West Bromwich Albion, Peixoto made sweeping changes to his starting lineup and Wolves yet succumbed to a 1-0 decision to their Premier League opponents.

However, it was a genu wounded sustained by Jimenez during the archetypal fractional astatine the Hill Dickinson Stadium that has near supporters much disappointed.

Questions person been asked implicit wherefore Peixoto felt the request to usage his first-choice guardant successful a cupful fixture 4 days anterior to the club's biggest crippled of the season.

As per the club's authoritative website, Peixoto justified his determination to prime the Mexico star, who volition besides miss his nation's upcoming matches versus Colombia, Peru and USA.

Wolves brag Peixoto speaks connected Jimenez injury

The Portuguese says that determination was a program successful spot for the 35-year-old to beryllium substituted astatine fractional time.

He said: "He was lone going to play 45 minutes, similar [Ladislav] Krejci. Raul needed to play due to the fact that helium didn’t play 90 minutes successful the past game.

"It’s not a muscular injury, but helium has a tiny wounded to his genu and we’ll beryllium without him for a fewer weeks. For sure, that’s atrocious quality for us.

“Raul is Raul. He’s a cardinal subordinate for america and unfortunately, helium has this injury. We’re frustrated and Raul himself is frustrated too. But helium knows helium needed to play and get immoderate minutes to support his fittingness for the adjacent game.

"At his age, we person to negociate his minutes, but playing excessively fewer minutes isn’t bully either. I spoke with him earlier the crippled and told him helium would lone play 45 minutes. It’s thing that could person happened successful grooming and contiguous it happened successful the game."

Nervous hold for Jimenez and Wolves

Although it is simply a wide stroke that Jimenez volition miss the showdown with West Brom, Wolves volition consciousness a consciousness of alleviation that a three-week interruption follows the lucifer astatine Molineux.

If Jimenez's wounded proves to beryllium comparatively minor, that play could theoretically let him the clip to retrieve and effort to beryllium acceptable for the crippled astatine Middlesbrough connected October 10.

However, Wolves volition people beryllium fearful that the nine fable could look a longer stint connected the sidelines.

He has made 5 starts and 4 substitute outings crossed each competitions this season, scoring 3 goals.