Raul Jimenez unlikely to be risked in Wolves' last game as focus turns to comeback next season

Raúl Jiménez is unlikely to be risked for a return this week as Wolves focus on having their £30 million forward ready for next season.

Jiménez will see a specialist on Tuesday and is hoping to be given the green light on a return to full contact training, after fracturing his skull in November.

The Mexico international is back in training with Nuno Espirito Santo's squad but is still not heading the ball and it is thought very unlikely that he will play until next season.

Wolves face Manchester United in their final match at Molineux on Sunday afternoon, with 4,500 fans allowed to attend, and earlier this year it was initially thought that Jiménez could return as a substitute.

But the chances of him making an emotional return are understood to be remote at best, with the full focus on ensuring he is fully fit and available for the 2021/22 campaign.

Within the club, there is still a sense of relief that Jiménez is poised to resume his career after sustaining the horrific injury in the 2-1 win over Arsenal on Nov 29, below.

The absence of the talismanic forward has been significant for Nuno, with Wolves guaranteed to finish in their lowest position since returning to the Premier League.

Fabio Silva, the £35m forward, has struggled in his first season in English football while Willian Jose, who was signed as a temporary Jiménez replacement in January, has proved a disappointment.

Wolves have failed to score in 12 Premier League matches this season and face Everton on Wednesday night.

Nuno said: “He's OK, he meets the specialist on Tuesday and based on that information we will decide [what to do next]. He is working and training but we have to be really patient and cannot afford any kind of mistake.

“The finishing [against Spurs] was very bad. We want to keep trying to improve and finding new solutions to our game."