Wolves star to miss Middlesbrough meeting while Peixoto reveals duo are doubts

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez is set to miss out again when his side take on Middlesbrough.

Jimenez is taking longer than initially hoped to recover from the knee injury he suffered in the Carabao Cup tie against Everton before the international break.

Wolves boss Peixoto says the striker is progressing but the club are unwilling to rush him back.

“Raul is doing everything on the technical side to recover as soon as possible, but I think he’s going to delay a little more,” Peixoto said.

“Raul doesn’t feel comfortable stepping up, and the medical department delayed a little more because he has to come and stay, not come and go again.

“We have to go slowly with Raul because he’s an important player for us and we want Raul to play the season, not stay, come and go out, so we have to go more slowly with him.”

Jordan James, meanwhile, picked up a minor foot problem while away with Wales, while Fer Lopez returned early from Spain Under-21 duty because of a knee issue.

Peixoto says both players remain in contention but will need to be assessed before a final decision is made.

“They are not 100 per cent, I don’t play mind games,” he said.

“They have pain, a little pain through their training, but I have to think and talk with them until the last moments to see if it is better for the team that they play in this game or they don’t play.”