"I am Lucky To Be Alive" Wolves Striker Raul Jimenez Speaks After Returning To Football Action Following Skull Fracture.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez has expressed his delight following his full return to football action for the first time since suffering a fractured skull.

The Mexican star, made his first competitive appearance since after he had an accidental head clash with David Luiz in a Premier League game against Arsenal last November. 

He was immediately given oxygen on the pitch before being rushed him to the hospital in a stretcher, where he had emergency surgery for a major traumatic brain injury and a skull fracture.

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports on Tuesday, Jimenez said that the doctors told him he was lucky to be alive after surviving a skull fracture which caused a little bleeding inside his brain.

 "It's a miracle to be here"

"The bone had broken and there was a little bit of bleeding inside my brain, that's why the surgery had to be quick and it was a really good job from the doctors." Said the 30-year-old forward.

"I never thought about finishing my career. There was a chance of that, but I was always confident I was going to return.

"I'm happy i am fully recovered and back to do what I love to do."

Jimenez returned to action playing 90 minutes for Wolves in their Premier League opener against Leicester City last Saturday in which they lost 1-0 courtesy of Jamie Vardy's only goal.

All Leicester players congratulated Jimenez during the game for making his comeback from a career-threatening injury.

"When i plays now, i have to wear a protective headguard which is modified to suit my preference, and i felt "really comfortable" at the weekend... Said Jimenez

"There have been different headguards since I started training with the team. I feel confident. If it was up to me I wouldn't use it. I would play normal.

"The doctors told me it was protection to prevent something. In this moment it could be more dangerous for me than any other player. I know I have to be in the same line as the doctors and surgeons."

According to reports from the physios at Wolves, Jimenez does not have to avoid heading the ball during training and he and the club's medical team monitor how many he does as a precaution.

Several other players like Everton's defender Michael Keane, and Hull City's Ryan Mason has also sustained similar injury, but the most popular is that of Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech who sustained a fractured skull in 2006 when he collided with a Reading midfielder, Stephen Hunt. He required emergency brain surgery and wore headgear in matches until he finally retired in 2019.

Wolves next host Tottenham at the Molineux on Sunday, meaning that they would will come up against their former manager Nuno Espirito Santo in what Jimenez says will be an emotional occasion.

 "It's going to be good moment. Nuno has been really supportive during the past months. I saw him three weeks ago. He told me he was really happy to see me play again."