Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly been handed a blow ahead of the new season with Raul Jimenez being ruled out until September.
On Saturday evening, Jimenez was forced off during the first half of the club's 3-0 victory over Besiktas in a pre-season friendly in Spain.
Little has emerged about the injury that the Mexican sustained in that game, the player initially attempting to run off the issue before he was withdrawn.
However, according to The Telegraph, Jimenez will now spend at least a month on the sidelines at a time when he was Wolves' only recognised frontman.
The report says that the knee injury could potentially result in the 31-year-old missing as many as eight weeks, keeping him on the sidelines until the back end of September.
Wolves have confirmed the news with the club's head of performance and medicine Dr Rob Chakraverty saying: "Raul came off in the game against Besiktas after he stretched for the ball and felt something in his knee and his groin.
"Scans reveal that he has suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee and a minor strain of his adductor. Neither injury is very serious but he is expected to be out for a number of weeks."
The development is a significant setback for Wolves head coach Bruno Lage who has allowed Fabio Silva to move on loan to Anderlecht.
Wolves had already been expected to enter the market for a new striker with Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke among those to have been linked with a switch to Molineux.
The club's pursuit of a fresh face for the middle of their attack is now expected to intensify with just 10 days remaining before Wolves face Leeds United at Elland Road in their Premier League opener.
Nevertheless, Lage does have alternatives at his disposal, most notably Hwang Hee-chan who has spent the majority of his career playing down the middle.
However, having returned to pre-season later than his teammates and recently carrying an issue with his hip, the South Korea international is yet to make an appearance this summer.
As it stands, Lage is expected to use Morgan Gibbs-White or Daniel Podence as a false nine, with the other remaining on the flank.
Gibbs-White has been linked with a move away from the club, but Jimenez's injury may see Wolves double down on their efforts to retain the services of the England Under-21 international. body check tags ::
