‘I don’t lie!’ Wolves boss laughs off Raul Jimenez ‘mind games’ suggestion

Cesar Peixoto laughed off suggestions of ‘mind games’ over Raul Jimenez’s availability for the Black Country derby.

West Brom boss James Morrison suggested mind games could be at play after the Mexican limped off in Wolves’ EFL Cup defeat at Everton in midweek.

But Peixoto put any suggestion that Wolves’ star striker could be available to face their rivals this weekend to bed, insisting he does not lie.

“I hope he plays, but it is not possible,” Peixoto said. “I don’t lie, I don’t do mind games. For sure, 100 per cent.”

Jimenez’s injury is a blow to Wolves and the Mexican, who missed two Black Country derbies in 2021 after suffering a serious head injury against Arsenal.

Peixoto had explained that Jimenez’s appearance at Everton was primarily for fitness and that he was only expected to play 45 minutes.

Asked how Jimenez feels about missing the derby, Peixoto added: “All the players want to play this kind of game.

“Raul for sure, he has a lot of history at the club and wants to play these kinds of derbies. If we win, we stay in the history of the club, in the heads of the supporters.

“He is a key player. But we know he is an experienced guy. We know this can happen. Now he has to recover as soon as possible. The good news is that it is not as bad as first thought.”

Peixoto said after the midweek game in Merseyside that Jimenez was facing several weeks out of action, but revealed in his pre-match press conference that the injury was not as bad as first feared.

The Wolves boss is hopeful the 35-year-old will be back available after the upcoming international break.

“It’s not with me, but I hope so,” he said. “I don’t want to say yes, because I don’t know, but we will try.”