Raul Jimenez to miss Black Country derby with knee injury

Raul Jimenez will miss Sunday's Black Country derby against West Brom after damaging his left knee in Wolves' 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Everton on Wednesday. The 35-year-old striker was withdrawn before half-time.

Jimenez has scored three times since returning to Molineux this summer after three years at Fulham, twice from the penalty spot and then from open play last Sunday with a late winner at Sheffield United. He has never played in a Black Country derby, missing both post-Covid fixtures in 2020-21 after fracturing his skull against Arsenal.

Asked whether he had considered resting Jimenez against Everton, Peixoto said the striker "had to play to stay in the rhythm to play on Sunday". The decision leaves Adam Armstrong set to lead the line at Molineux, where Wolves have not beaten Albion in a league derby since May 2011.

Wolves go into the game three points behind West Brom in the Championship, though they have a game in hand. James Morrison's side sit fourth with 14 points from seven matches, with Isaac Price, Aune Selland Heggebø and Harry Whitwell their leading scorers this season.

Albion have their own absentees. Winger Mikey Johnston is out for the foreseeable future with an ankle injury and defender Nolan Galves is sidelined with a knee problem, but Brayann Pereira returns from suspension after his red card on his Baggies debut at Derby.

The next international break, which follows Sunday's match, gives Jimenez time to recover before Mexico's next World Cup qualifiers, where he has scored three goals this campaign as Mexico sit top of their group.