Mexico coach optimistic Raúl Jiménez will be fit for World Cup

Mexico coach Gerardo Martino is optimistic Raúl Jiménez will be fit for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar but ruled out the Wolverhampton star for a friendly game against Iraq on Wednesday evening.

Martino says Jiménez will be assessed once again to see if he can get a run in a friendly clash against Sweden next week.

Mexico are camping in Girona, Spain ahead of the trip to Qatar, and the game against Sweden will be the last one they play before jetting out to the World Cup.

OUT OF ACTION FOR TWO MONTHS

The Wolverhampton star, Jiménez has not played competitive football since September.

He suffered a groin injury in a goalless draw with Bournemouth at the end of August in the Premier League.

And with the World Cup in Qatar nearing closer, Martino is hopeful that his star attacker will recover in time for the global showpiece, although in England reports are pessimistic about Jimenez’s chances.

Martino says he will wait until the last moment to see if he can still count on his number one striker even though Jimenez still appears to be struggling with fitness with only 11 days before the World Cup kicks off.

However, the good news for Mexico is that Jimenez had returned to full training at Wolves after spending almost a month in his home country rehabilitating his chronic groin injury.

Jiménez traveled to Spain on Sunday to join the rest of the Mexico national team in camp.

“About Raul Jimenez, we are evaluating if he can get some minutes against Sweden as it would be difficult for him to play on Wednesday,” Martino told the media.

If Jimenez was to miss the World Cup, it would be a blow to Mexico.

But Martino gave different scenarios to how Mexico could line up without him.

Hirving Lozano and Alexis Vega have previously been used in the centre forward position; it is possible either could be used in Jimenez’s place.

Mexico are in Group C with Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

Article compiled by Tlalane Phahla