The Wolverhampton Wanderers duo have recently returned from international duty ahead of Molineux’s first European game in almost 40 years.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo has provided an update regarding the availability of Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss, who have not long returned from international duty (official Wolves website).
Wolves host Northern Irish side Crusaders at Molineux on Thursday in the Europa League second round qualifying, the first time in 39 years that the club have played in European competition.
Jimenez and Saiss returned to club training on Monday after the former won the Gold Cup with Mexico and the latter helped Morocco to the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations, and as such, Nuno was asked whether the two are expected to feature.
While not ruling the duo out of action altogether, the Portuguese hinted towards them not featuring as the coaching staff “have to manage them”, but on the positive side, they are ready to be called upon in case there is a need.
“They haven’t had the same amount of time off as the other players and we have to manage them, but they are ready in case we decide,” Nuno is quoted by the official Wolves site as saying. “That’s the best thing – they are fit and healthy.”
Wolves, whose return to the Premier League last term yielded a seventh-placed finish in the table as well as a run to the FA Cup semi-finals, last played in Europe when they beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0, losing 3-2 on aggregate, in October 1980.
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