‘We have to manage his minutes’ - Cesar Peixoto ready for tough decisions on Wolves star

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto admits he will need to manage Raul Jimenez’s minutes to ensure he gets the best performances out of him.

Cesar Peixoto and Raul Jimenez (Picture: Getty Images)

The Mexican striker was left out of the starting XI on Sunday but stepped off the bench to grab a 90th minute winner.

With Wolves due to play West Brom in a huge Black Country derby on Sunday, it is unlikely Jimenez will start against Everton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening and the head coach says he will have to pick the right games to start the striker.

"He is 35-years-old and we have to manage him,” Peixoto said.

"This week we have three matches in a row, and we have to manage the minutes.

"He is an important player for us, who has been in the starting XI for the last few games. He came from the bench and showed strong character as a captain, not only by scoring the goal.

"If you remember the way he defended set pieces after the goal. We are not a tall team, and Raul is strong in the air. In the air he helped the team.

"He is an important player we know, but we have to manage his minutes.”

Peixoto admires the ‘amazing player and character’ that Jimenez is, but insists he is prepared to make the tough decisions when it comes to his team selection.

"The players want to play all the time but I spoke with Raul before,” Peixoto added.

"He and Trippier are 35-years-old and we have to manage them intelligently.

"He wants to play, but he also understands his age and physicality. He came back later from the World Cup, and it is more difficult for him to play three games in the same week.

"You saw the way he went on the pitch, trying to score and trying to defend, helping the team. He is an amazing player and character.

"I want to make decisions that are better for the team game after game. If I feel in a game it is better not to have Raul because we have three games in a row, then I am going to make that decision.

"I respect all the players and respect Raul for sure. It is better to have him play fewer minutes with a great performance, as we saw, than to have him tired and finding it more difficult to play.

"We have to manage him in an intelligent way to make the team as competitive as possible in all the games.”