London
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez says it never crossed his mind his career was over despite fracturing his skull in a horrific clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz nine months ago.
The 30-year-old Mexican international completed a remarkable recovery in playing the whole of Wolves’s 1-0 defeat by Leicester in their opening Premier League match last Saturday.
Jimenez wore a headguard adapted to his preferences and which he said “felt really comfortable.” “I always thought that after my recovery I would be back to do what I love to do,” said Jimenez. “I never thought about finishing my career.
“There was a chance of that, but I was always confident I was going to return.” Jimenez, who had emergency surgery on his fractured skull, said doctors told him it was a “miracle to be here”. “The bone had broken and there was a little bit of bleeding inside my brain,” he said.
“That’s why the surgery had to be quick and it was a really good job from the doctors.” Jimenez can still head the ball and said he is only wearing the headguard due to medical advice.
“If it was up to me I wouldn’t use it,” he said. “The doctors told me it was protection to prevent something. “In this moment it could be more dangerous for me than any other player.—APP