After spending most of the previous season on the sidelines due to a serious head injury, Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has returned to the pitch. In his recent interview, the Mexico international revealed the support he received from former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech during his time out.
Cech, who sustained a similar injury during his playing days, offered to help Jimenez throughout and even spoke with the doctors regarding the use of a padded helmet.
“I have been in contact with Petr. He texted me when I needed, when I wanted he was there,
“Once, when the team went to a game in London, he went to the hotel with the doctor to bring one of his helmets to see if we could do something similar. Even if they don’t know you, they are there to help.”
Jimenez was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
However, the Mexican forward turned out not to be a fan of the headgear, albeit he accepts that he has to play wearing some sort of protection to prevent further damage.
He was seen wearing a modified version of the headgear during Wolves’ match against Leicester City that covered the area where his skull was damaged.
“If it was down to me, I wouldn’t use it. I’d play as normal,”
“But the doctors told me that it’s protection, to prevent something that in this moment could be more dangerous for me.”
Jimenez stated.
Jimenez suffered the injury five minutes into Wolves’ Premier League game against Arsenal in November 2020. The 30-year-old contested a loose ball in the air against David Luiz, and the two players clashed heads subsequently. The forward was knocked unconscious and received treatment on the pitch for several minutes before being stretchered off.
During the 2021/22 opening weekend, Jimenez returned to competitive action for the first time since his injury, sporting the headgear. It was reported he would be required to wear the brace throughout the rest of his playing career.
