Wolves hitman Raul Jimenez has been protecting a fractured wrist for SIX MONTHS

WOLVES striker Raul Jimenez has been protecting a fractured wrist for the past SIX months.

And ahead of tonight’s crucial Europa League clash, Molineux boss Nuno Espirito Santo fears the player will be targeted by Torino defenders.

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Wolves are defending a narrow 3-2 lead from the first leg in Italy as they look to reach the group stages.

Despite the injury, club-record £32million signing Jimenez has already scored six goals this season — five in the Europa League — while wearing heavy strapping on his left wrist.

The Mexico striker, 28, suffered the injury against Chelsea on March 10 but Nuno only revealed the extent of it yesterday.

Yet Jimenez then played in the Concacaf Gold Cup over summer and was named player of the tournament, leading his nation to an eighth triumph.

He also kept Wolves’ unbeaten run intact on Sunday with a last-gasp penalty in the draw with Burnley.

Jimenez decided against surgery — and although it is no longer broken, the bone is still healing and the player must continue wearing protection.

Nuno said: “He has a problem. Did he break the wrist? Yes.

“Do you think it was for fashion, you think he enjoys using it? He needs it, medically, for protection.”
And Nuno fears Jimenez might get extra attention from the Italians.

He added: “You never know, I don’t know what their ideas are.

“But he has to protect himself if there is a problem there. He’s doing well, he’s helping the team. This is the spirit with all the players.”

Nuno says Wolves cannot afford to switch off again towards the end — after Torino scored a second from the spot.

Nuno explained: “In the last minutes, we lost control of the game. This is something we have to improve on.”

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Wideman Matt Doherty says it will be incredible if Wolves get into the group stages — as they were in League One only five years ago.

Doherty said: “That would be unbelievable, considering where we were a few years ago.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us, the way the tie is set up. We are not going to play to just preserve the result as it is.”