Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo admits he was afraid for Raul Jimenez after the striker suffered a fractured skull.
The Mexico international needed surgery after a clash of heads with David Luiz in Sunday's 2-1 win at Arsenal.
Jimenez remains in hospital but is expected to be discharged next week with club doctor Matt Perry describing his initial progress as excellent.
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Nuno said: "It was very serious and everyone was afraid, everyone was worried. As the days go by and, knowing he is being taken good care of, we have been able to return to a normal situation.
"Now we have to stick together and all our thoughts and prayers go to Raul.
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"Everything goes through your mind, you see someone you really love in a tough situation. You are worried, first of all because we all love Raul and he means so much to us, it's like someone in the family."
Nuno and Wolves have been keen to underline the severity of the injury but he is hopeful Jimenez will return.
"Now if you ask me personally, put aside my wish and my desire, I want him and I am positive he's going to come back," he said.
"He's going to come back. What the medical team did was amazing - both teams, Arsenal's and ours. This is why we trust them and we thank them so much.
"This is what the doctor insists to me - first days are crucial. He was really well taken care of on the pitch and during the journey in the ambulance.
"There was not even a moment when he was not being given oxygen so this is what determines the next steps to take. Now he is recovering.
"Now our real concern is that he recovers totally. After that we will have time.
"On these situations, it has to do a lot with the evolution of the player, how he feels, but now I'm positive because the first days are so important."
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Nuno was already supporting plans to introduce concussion substitutes before Jimenez's injury and believes it has unanimous backing.
He added: "I think it makes sense and I know there are conversations. I speak on a daily basis with Dr Matt Perry and something is going to happen naturally.
"I have no doubts that everyone involved in the game - players, managers, referees and fans - are supportive of the concussion substitution. No doubt about it.
"I think everybody involved in the game is supportive of the concussion substitution because it's something serious."
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Wolves go to Liverpool on Sunday without Jimenez but Romain Saiss has returned to training after recovering from coronavirus.
They will face former striker Diogo Jota, after his £45m switch to Anfield in September, who has scored nine goals in his first 15 appearances for the Premier League champions.
Nuno said: "We are proud and happy Diogo is doing well. He is a fantastic player and a fantastic boy. We shared so many things which will never be forgotten.
"Now he is at Liverpool, he is at the right place and now he is an opponent for us.
"We know his characteristics but we are going to face Liverpool so we have to be aware of their qualities, Diogo plus all the other talented players Liverpool have."
