Wolves legend backs midfielder to help with attacking load

Wolves legend Andy Thompson reckons Marshall Munetsi can help fill the attacking void left by Raul Jimenez’s injury.

Jimenez has been ruled out until January after undergoing knee surgery, leaving Cesar Peixoto searching for an alternative up front.

And while Adam Armstrong and Sean Neave will both get the chance to stake their claim, Thompson believes Munetsi could help carry the load.

The 30-year-old has played exclusively as a midfielder for Peixoto this season but did play some matches up front for the club in the Premier League.

Thompson told the Express & Star Wolves Podcast: “Neave is going to be the choice along with Armstrong.

“But I think you can play Munetsi down that front. He is someone you can use there.

“You know he is a willing runner who will run behind the backline. We know he works really hard.

“With Raul being out for three months, they might have to have a look in January in the transfer market.

“That depends how we do in the next couple of months. There are a lot of games between now and the new year.”

Teenager Neave, who is on a season-long loan from Newcastle, was handed his first senior league start in Friday’s 2-1 win at Burnley, a match Armstrong missed due to a back injury.

The latter, who joined Wolves in January, has struggled for form and was without a goal in nine matches heading into Tuesday’s visit of Portsmouth.

Jimenez had scored three goals in nine appearances since returning to Molineux on a free transfer in the summer.

The Mexico international suffered his knee injury in last month’s Carabao Cup defeat at Everton and while it was initially hoped the issue would only keep him sidelined for a few weeks, it was decided last week he would require surgery.

Peixoto described his loss as a “heavy punch”.

“We have to try and manage it,” said Thompson. “The manager seems to like just the one up front, with Fer Lopez or others behind

“Whether or not Armstrong can do that job, I am not sure. Neave is a young lad. Can he grow into it by playing? Can he show us something?

“He is pretty quick and works hard but for that first half-hour at Burnley I don’t feel he was that involved in the game at all. We just could not pick him out or get anything up to him.

“Even though we created more chances in the second half, it was a similar thing. We struggled to get him into it.

“There are opportunities up there. Neave will get his chance. Armstrong is the one who you think will be the main one with Raul injured.

“But we could try Munetsi. I know some people might disagree but our hands are tied until January so we just need to try everything we can.

“Tawanda Chirewa got his goal at Burnley, so maybe he can build on that? It will be interesting to see what Peixoto does moving forward.”

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