Although Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez didn’t get on the scoresheet in Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Bristol City at Ashton Gate, the 27-year-old on loan Benfica man came in for plenty of praise from BBC pundit Leon Osman.
Speaking to Match of the Day on Sunday evening following the game, the former Everton midfielder heaped praise on our striker for the way he lead the line and put in the hard yards in the game, and he felt that after some struggles as he adjusted to life in the Premier League, he was now showing that he was a top class player for us.
“He did, for the first two months of the season, people were questioning whether Wolves had enough in that role in that position but Raul Jimenez has really come on and shown the Premier League and the country that he is a top class player. The way he plays on shoulders, he runs over the top, you see him now with this ability to play passes in behind to create chances for his team, and he is always a handful for the opposition. He drifts to the right-hand side just behind centre-halves and really does stretch the opposition and just like we just said Doherty does on this right-hand side and he really helps create chances. He really has been a fantastic find and he has proven himself as season gone on.”
With 27 starts for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo since he arrived over the summer, along with three showings from the bench, he has returned eleven goals for us and I believe he’s up to five assists according to Whoscored.
He’s certainly maturing into the role for us and it’s almost a no brainer to turn his deal permanent in the summer given the recent speculation that a deal could now happen.
