Wolverhampton Wanderers and Mexico striker, Raul Jimenez has promised that he will decline participation from the World Cup voluntarily if he he does not get fit in time for the squad selection deadline that comes up on the 14th of November.
Jimenez has played only four times for Wolves this season because of injuries he sustained to his knee and groin. He initially suffered the injuries in a pre season game against Besiktas on July 23rd and was ruled out for the start of Wolves season. He returned on August 20th and started three straight games for Wolves before he was withdrawn from the tream after he felt uncomfortable in pre match training. Wolves manager Bruno Lage explained that the striker was suffering from “Chronic Fatigue”.
He didn’t feature for his club since then and has been in rehabilitation with the national team but his progress has been slower than he had hoped for according to the player himself.
“I am working with the ball, separated from the group, but I am already warming up with the team and I can do various things,” Jimenez told ESPN Mexico.
“I’m not ready to compete yet. Physically I feel good, even though it’s been (more than) two months since my last match.
“The squad list is due on Nov. 14. If I don’t feel up to it by then, that’s as far as it goes and I wish the team the best of luck.”
After sustaining a career threatening skull fracture in the 2020/2021 season, Raul Jimenez was deemed lucky to be alive by doctors hand some even thought he would never able to play football again but he was able to beat the odds and recover from that injury. He then enjoyed a largely healthy 2021/2022 season where he scored six goals and assisted a further four in 34 League games.
At 31 years of age, Jimenez might not get another chance at playing at another World Cup as he will be turning 35 by the time the next World Cup rolls around. It will he difficult for him but not impossible. The fact that in four years time, Mexico will be one of the three hosts of the World Cup in 2026 may give him the motivation to keep playing at the highest level for another four years.
Mexico manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino also expressed his worry over Jimenez’s injury situation but he is also hopeful that his star striker will make the tournament.
“I am optimistic,” he told Depor (via Sport Witness). “The injury is worrying, but the goal is to help him recover and not throw in the towel, think he’s going to get there. Don’t change your head. When I went to eat with him I saw that he is positive. We have to take care of his injury and he shouldn’t stop being positive.”
Since making his debut for El Tri in 2013, Jimenez has played 96 times and scored 29 goals for his country.
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