A bad week that could have lasting consequences

After going into the international break with such confidence, the last few days have been a jarring experience for Wolves, even considering the normal snakes-and-ladders environment of the Championship.

With last night's report that Raul Jimenez's knee injury, initially thought to be only a brief setback, is likely to keep him out for around half of the remaining league games, this could be a bad week with longer-lasting consequences than most.

That the news should emerge after two games in which his absence was especially keenly felt is typical of the league's capricious nature.

Wolves fans, however, may not at present be inclined to shrug this off as just bad luck, the turning of a nasty 'chance card' at the wrong moment.

At the time of his selection for the Carabao Cup tie at Everton, there was surprise that Jimenez was risked for a relatively low-priority fixture, in Black Country derby week.

The level of criticism of manager Cesar Peixoto for that decision felt a little harsh.

Somebody had to play, and Jimenez was logically no more likely to be injured in that game than any other. Peixoto's argument, that Jimenez needed more game time to build up his match fitness, was credible.

It is reasonable to worry about such a dearly-loved veteran player, but the only way to be sure of avoiding any risk of injury is never to take him off the shelf at all.

The ire of fans may instead focus on decisions made months ago, as Wolves were trying to piece together their squad rebuild, which took some unexpected turns.

They had longer than most clubs to prepare for their destination, and signed Adam Armstrong last January, by common understanding as a start towards building a squad to win the second tier.

He is by no means at the top of his form, but arguably Wolves have been firing over crosses as if Jimenez himself was still there winning headers, not serving the smaller man.

There is a shortage of alternatives. Mateus Mane has made fleeting appearances as the spearhead, but seems happier out wide. It might be time to give a chance to Sean Neave, talented but obviously green.

Was the intention to find somebody else, after Tolu Arokodare and Sasa Kalajdzic were allowed to go? Perhaps. Arokodare's move to Ajax was hardly mourned, but there were voices suggesting that Kalajdzic, despite his wretched luck with injuries, ought to be retained at least until a replacement arrived.

Instead, he played against Liverpool in the Champions League this week, and Wolves missed him, or somebody like him.