Key date coming up for Wolves striker Raul Jimenez's return

Jimenez, who fractured his skull at Arsenal in November, has been training at Compton for the past couple of months while wearing protective headgear.

Nuno Espirito Santo – whose side host Brighton on Sunday – has not ruled out the Mexican playing again this season and says an examination on Tuesday, May 18 will ‘decide how to move forward’.

“Raul has an exam, seeing the specialist on the 18th of this month,” said Nuno.

“So, from thereon, we’ll know exactly what we need to do. We need clearance from the specialist and he’s going to see the specialist on the 18th.

“Until then, he’s working, totally fit. We still have precautions on him heading the ball. The 18th will be an important day for us to move forward and make the right decision.

“He’s been doing well. Training and scoring. He’s happy in the training sessions and his team-mates know what he means to us, and are delighted to see him healthy.

“But we still have to wait and the 18th is an important date for us to have a real assessment and, basically, decide how to move forward.”

In the event of being cleared, Jimenez would have a tight turnaround in terms of playing again this campaign as Wolves travel to Everton on Wednesday, May 19, before the final game of the campaign against Manchester United on Sunday, May 23.

On if he would play a part if he is cleared to head the ball, Nuno said: “There’s no point speaking about the if.

“We’ll go day by day, get to the 18th, and then move forward.”

He added: “The approach has been very good ever since the injury happened.

“He’s always been supported. The work has been amazing. And more important is that we see a healthy Raul.

“Apparently, everything is OK, but we have to know from proper exams and the specialists who have taken really good care of him.”