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Nuno Espirito Santo: Wolves will move in January to cover Raul Jimenez absence

Mexico striker Jimenez suffered a fractured skull following his clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz last month with no time scale put on a return; watch Wolves vs Tottenham on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Super Sunday; kick-off 7.15pm

 Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo greets his player Raul Jimenez
Image: Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo says Raul Jimenez has been a huge blow to his side

Nuno Espirito Santo says Wolves are prepared to act quickly in the January transfer window to make up for the "terrible" absence of Raul Jimenez.

Mexico striker Jimenez suffered a fractured skull following his clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz last month and no time frame has been put on the 29-year-old's return.

Portuguese teenager Fabio Silva scored his first goal following his club-record £35m move from Porto in September, a late penalty in Monday's 2-1 defeat at Burnley, but Nuno says Wolves are ready to move when the transfer window opens on January 2.

"We are preparing," Nuno said ahead of Sunday's home game with Tottenham.

"There is no day that we don't speak to each other. The manager, the technical staff, Scott (Sellars, general manager football technical), every day.

"Of course we have to rebalance our squad, it's still a long season ahead of us."

The loss of Jimenez, who has scored 48 goals in two-and-a-half years at Molineux, was a huge blow for Wolves and the impact on the team was said to be the equivalent of Spurs losing their star striker Harry Kane.

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Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo confirms Raul Jimenez's recovery from a fractured skull continues to improve and demands his team ensures the Mexican striker returns in time to an in-form side

"I will not compare it, but I would say the absence of Raul is very important to us," Nuno said.

"We feel it and we felt it since the moment it happened. It is a huge blow because it is not only what he does on the pitch, but what he means for the squad.

"The confidence that the players have in him, the belief that until the last minute that he is going to put it inside (the goal).

"I will not compare to other teams, but I will admit that for us his absence is terrible."

Wolves have lost three of their four games since Jimenez was injured on November 29 to fall into the bottom half of the Premier League.

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