LOPETEGUI WALKS INTO RAUL ROW

NEW Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has walked straight into a World Cup row after questioning Raul Jimenez’s decision to declare himself fit for Mexico.

The striker (above) is in Mexico’s 26-man squad for Qatar despite having been out of Wolves action with a groin injury since facing Bournemouth on August 31.

And it has left an unimpressed Lopetegui (below) sweating as he begins to plot a survival mission for the rock-bottom club, who have scored just eight times in their opening 15 league matches. Speaking at his Molineux unveiling, where he confirmed he has signed a two-anda-half year deal, the Spaniard said of Jimenez: “He is not fit at this moment.

“He has been injured and he hasn’t played any minutes for two to three very important months.

“I understand, of course, that players want to go to the World Cup and I understand the country puts pressure on them to go but in the end you have to be able to play well and you have to show this in your club team first.

“He has decided to go and Mexico have decided to call him.

“We respect this but I want him to be fit for us when he comes back. I am worried about that because he is an important player for us.

“He told me he feels better but I don’t know if it’s enough.

“I wish him the best with Mexico because he is our player, but I have to defend our interests and my interest is Wolves.”

Wolves have claimed just one point from their last five league matches. They head into the World Cup four points adrift of 17th-placed Everton – their Boxing-day opponents for Lopetegui’s first league game in charge.

Lopetegui has accepted the chance to take charge at Molineux at the third time of asking. He first turned Wolves down six years ago and then said no after Bruno Lage was sacked last month due to his 92-year-old father’s health.

But his condition has now “improved” and Lopetegui added: “I said no for various reasons but now I’m very happy – I want to be here for a lot of years.”