Walsall boss Darrell Clarke sends best wishes to Raul Jimenez after operation on fractured skull

The Mexican forward was stretched off early on in the win over Arsenal on Sunday night, after a clash of heads with defender David Luiz.

Jimenez has since had an operation for a fractured skull and is resting in hospital. When asked if players across the country will have Jimenez’s injury playing on their minds in upcoming games, Clarke said: “Everybody will have seen that collision and let’s hope the lad recovers well, it’s such a shocking collision.

“When players are playing they put that to the back of their mind.

“Players are brave. They’re professional athletes and they have to move on from that. It’s very difficult if you’re a member of the Wolves squad and you’ve seen that during the course of the game.

“Whenever players cross the white line they know they could pick up an injury but they have to be brave.

“Hopefully it doesn’t play on their mind too much because these things happen in contact sports.”

Recent reports, before the Jimenez incident on Sunday, have detailed the link between heading footballs and older players developing dementia.

It has been revealed that Wolves legend Mike Bailey is suffering with the disease, while former Villa player and Walsall manager Chris Nicholl is a long-time sufferer, with years of heading footballs believed to be responsible.

Now, Clarke has called on more research to be carried into into the link and for children to stop heading the ball – however he insists it cannot be taken out of the game at a professional level.

“It’s a big part of the game, heading the ball,” Clarke said.

“It’s a skill and a technique.

“I don’t think younger players need to be heading the ball so frequently as they’re growing up.

“We have to be wary of that. The manufacturers of the ball probably need to look at it.

“But there has been massive improvement in that. God forbid in the days when there were laces in the football and catching your head on one of those.

“We’ve come a long way with that but it’s certainly something that needs looking into.

“You want to look after players’ health and wellbeing, not just for today, but for later on in their lives.

“I’m not an expert but I think they need to have a look at it thoroughly.

“A lot of the older players are getting dementia and seeing whether that is a link from heading balls.

“It’s probably a joint effort by all the authorities involved to investigate and make sure we get to the bottom of it and look at the best solution, while also not changing the game.

“Heading is a vital part of the game.”

n Manchester goalkeeper Ederson has wished his old team-mate Jimenez well.

He said: “I was very worried, I was watching the game. I played with Raul Jimenez at Benfica.

“I think all the concern and care is very important. It is a part of the body that needs special attention.

“When there is a blow to the head there should be a substitution, whether the player can continue or not. You could be feeling OK but after you could feel the consequences.

“It wasn’t intentional, but we know the risks of a head injury. I hope he recovers quickly and is back as soon as possible.”