Wolverhampton Wanderers may have begun their Premier League campaign with a whimper, but they could be about to improve if their recent transfer activity is any barometer.
In recent weeks, Bruno Lage has signed Matheus Nunes and Goncalo Guedes, and the Old Gold are reportedly close to securing a deal for Boubacar Kamara, while also potentially bringing in another striker to cure their goalscoring woes.
These signings are a big statement of intent from Lage, but if they don’t start performing, questions will be asked. Losing their most recent top-flight game to Tottenham Hotspur was particularly cruel as they played well for the most part.
They drew another blank on the scoreboard, though, and the Wolves manager should be looking to change things up against Newcastle United today. Starting Raul Jimenez could well give the Old Gold a scoring threat from the opening whistle.
The Mexican was injured in a pre-season clash against Besiktas and was expected to be out for a few weeks, missing his team’s opening two matches. He made a return against Spurs, coming off the bench with just over half an hour remaining, and although he didn’t get on the scoresheet, he was successful with his only dribble attempt and won 60% of his duels.
He started against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup in midweek and scored his first competitive goal for the club since March.
With 55 goals and 23 assists in 148 appearances for Wolves, and their top league goalscorer last term, he is arguably their biggest offensive threat, and Lage should consider starting him against Eddie Howe’s side, especially as he appears to be a menace against teams managed by the Newcastle boss.
Jimenez has scored four goals against Bournemouth (one in every game) when Howe was over the Cherries, while last season he grabbed one goal and two assists against Newcastle, proving he has something of a glint in his eye when he takes on a team managed by the 44-year-old.
The £41k-p/w star, who was described as “special” by his former manager Nuno Espirito Santo, will be dying to get back into the goalscoring form which propelled the club to top-half finishes under the one-time Wolves boss.
Although Jimenez is just returning from an injury layoff, it could well be worth the risk by Lage to start the Mexican today, especially with the Old Gold desperately in the need of goals.
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