JIMENEZ GIVEN A HEADS UP BY LAGE

WOLVES boss Bruno Lage has been showing his squad clips of Raul Jimenez heading goals in his pomp and believes the striker will be doing so again having changed his headband.

The Mexico international forward ditched his original padded headband this month because it was hampering him.

He wore a new thinner version last weekend at Burnley. It still protects a scar on his temple following his fractured skull in 2020, but gives a more natural feel when he heads the ball.

And boss Lage (right) hopes Jimenez will reap the benefits in the run-in as Wolves aim to resurrect their bid for European football.

Lage, preparing for Brighton’s visit today, explained: “I said they should look at the goal he scored [for Benfica] against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. That was amazing.

“But if you remember in our fifth game, against Brentford, he had an easy chance to score but missed and removed his headband.

“The other one was heavier and across the full head. Sometimes it made a difference to the trajectory of the ball. This is lighter and protects only the place that needs protecting. I feel it’s better in training and now I hope it’s better in games.

“The new band gives us a different direction when he’s heading. And it gives him more confidence when he’s running, it’s lighter but protects him.”

After 17 and 27 goals respectively in his first two seasons at the club, Jimenez’s campaign last term ended in November 2020 following a clash of heads with David Luiz.

Jimenez (top) needed emergency surgery to save his life and not surprisingly has struggled to hit the heights since then.

But Lage remains loyal to a forward who signed for £33million in July 2019 after a successful loan from Benfica.

Lage added: “I protect the players every time.

They are my kids, they are my family, I want better for them.

“Raul is a great guy, he works hard every day, these kind of seasons can happen to a player. But I can see the same player.”