• Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez goes past Crewe Alexandra's Oli Finney during a pre-season friendly match at Mornflake Stadium on Saturday, July 17.
    Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez goes past Crewe Alexandra's Oli Finney during a pre-season friendly match at Mornflake Stadium on Saturday, July 17.
  • Wolves striker Raul Jimenez returned to action wearing a head protector after suffering a fractured skull in November.
    Wolves striker Raul Jimenez returned to action wearing a head protector after suffering a fractured skull in November.
  • Wolves' Raul Jimenez and Luke Murphy of Crewe battle for the ball.
    Wolves' Raul Jimenez and Luke Murphy of Crewe battle for the ball.
  • Raul Jimenez is replaced by Patrick Cutone.
    Raul Jimenez is replaced by Patrick Cutone.
  • New Wolves manager Bruno Lage saw his team lose 1-0 at Crewe.
    New Wolves manager Bruno Lage saw his team lose 1-0 at Crewe.
  • New Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira during his team's friendly match at Walsall.
    New Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira during his team's friendly match at Walsall.
  • Patrick Vieira watches the action at Banks's Stadium.
    Patrick Vieira watches the action at Banks's Stadium.
  • Patrick Vieira talks to his Palace players during a drinks break.
    Patrick Vieira talks to his Palace players during a drinks break.
  • Palace's Wilfried Zaha celebrates with teammates after scoring the only goal of the game against Walsall.
    Palace's Wilfried Zaha celebrates with teammates after scoring the only goal of the game against Walsall.
  • New Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo during the pre-season friendly match at Leyton Orient.
    New Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo during the pre-season friendly match at Leyton Orient.
  • Spurs' Dane Scarlett of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammates after scoring at the Breyer Group Stadium.
    Spurs' Dane Scarlett of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammates after scoring at the Breyer Group Stadium.
  • Tottenham attacker Dele Alli is challenged by Leyton Orient's Paul Smyth during the 1-1 draw.
    Tottenham attacker Dele Alli is challenged by Leyton Orient's Paul Smyth during the 1-1 draw.
  • Dane Scarlett, left, after scoring for Spurs.
    Dane Scarlett, left, after scoring for Spurs.
  • Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
    Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
  • Dane Scarlett scores for Spurs.
    Dane Scarlett scores for Spurs.
  • Delle Alli of Tottenham Hotspur is tackled by Leyton Orient's Hector Kyprianou.
    Delle Alli of Tottenham Hotspur is tackled by Leyton Orient's Hector Kyprianou.
  • Spurs' Lucas Moura under pressure from Dan Kemp of Leyton Orient.
    Spurs' Lucas Moura under pressure from Dan Kemp of Leyton Orient.
  • Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
    Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
  • Brentford's Joel Valencia scores against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.
    Brentford's Joel Valencia scores against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.
  • Brentford manager Thomas Frank manager talks to one of his players during the game.
    Brentford manager Thomas Frank manager talks to one of his players during the game.

Sport

Football

Raul Jimenez, Wilfried Zaha and Patrick Vieira: English friendly round-up - in pictures

Wolves striker makes first start since suffering fractured skull in November

The National

July 18, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The dust has barely settled from last weekend's Euro 2020 final and England's Premier League sides are already back into pre-season friendly action.

For Wolverhampton Wanderers fans, there was a welcome return to action of striker Raul Jimenez. The 30-year-old Mexican suffered a fractured skull playing against Arsenal last November that ended his 2020/21 season.

Jimenez, wearing protective headgear, hit the bar with a free-kick in the friendly against League One side Crewe Alexander at Gresty Road.

But he was back on the pitch on Saturday as new Wolves manager Bruno Lage watched his side lose 1-0 thanks to a Chris Long goal.

Patrick Vieira, meanwhile, enjoyed a winning start to his reign as Crystal Palace manager as Wilfried Zaha scored the only goal in their friendly at League Two Walsall.

Tottenham Hotspur's Nuno Espirito Santo, another new manager, saw his team draw 1-1 with Lleyton Orient at the Breyer Group Stadium.

Spurs' 17-year-old striker Dane Scarlett, 17, put his team in front just before half-time with a left-footed finish from a Lucas Moura pass. Ruel Sotiriou levelled for the League Two side.

Hakim Ziyech scored a second-half hat-trick as Chelsea powered to a 6-1 win over Peterborough at the Blues' Cobham training base. Striker Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic were also among the scorers.

New Arsenal signing Nuno Tavares was on target in his first appearance for the Gunners as they drew 2-2 with Rangers at Ibrox.

Leon Balogun put the Scottish champions ahead only for Tavares, a summer signing from Benfica, to level in the first half. Substitute Cedric Itten's header restored Rangers' lead with a quarter of an hour to go, but Eddie Nketiah earned Mikel Arteta's side a draw with seven minutes to go.

Brentford warmed up for their first top-flight season since 1946-47 by beating AFC Wimbledon 1-0 at Plough Lane thanks to Joel Valencia's first-half header.


Updated: July 18, 2021, 2:46 AM