Raul Jimenez Unique: Fulham striker feels he is again to his ‘finest self’ after ‘lengthy journey’ following cranium fracture | Soccer information

“I’m pleased to be again.”

Raul Jimenez thinks he lastly discovered himself after his sickening head trauma in November 2020.

The life-threatening second noticed the then Wolves man knocked unconscious. a match against Arsenal following a horrific conflict with Gunners defender David Luiz.

It took 9 months for Jimenez to return again from a fractured cranium and be capable to play once more – however in actuality, it took the Fulham striker greater than 4 years to actually get well.

Six objectives in all competitions this season and an help in opposition to Manchester Metropolis in October present he has rediscovered his magic.

“It’s been a really lengthy journey,” he stated completely. Aerial sports activities. “My first 12 months, it was simply restoration, doing workout routines that I by no means thought I’d do, like simply strengthening my neck with a helmet and various things.

“Then coming again to the Premier League to face the video games once more was actually good and superb.

“In any case these items, possibly the docs weren’t positive if I used to be going to have the ability to play once more. However I by no means thought I’d come again.

“I got here again a 12 months later, however I feel I obtained again to my finest self not too way back, so I am pleased to be again.

“I nonetheless have rather a lot to offer for Fulham and for soccer.”

A turning level for the Mexican got here simply earlier than the third anniversary of his head damage.

A aim in Fulham’s 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in November final 12 months ended his 33-game Premier League drought. Since that aim, Jimenez has scored 12 objectives in all competitions for the Cottagers, together with 5 within the league this season.

“I knew when the primary one got here, they have been going to return,” he stated. “Nicely, they got here, however after I sadly obtained injured, I finished that momentum.

“However soccer is the place issues occur after which in the long run I completed the season with two objectives at Luton.

“This season I began on the bench, then after I began taking part in I additionally began scoring objectives.

“I do know I’ve 5 objectives, possibly it might be eight or 9, nevertheless it’s like that, typically you are going to rating, typically you are going to miss. However I’ll hold making an attempt and hold going for it.” .

“I am taking part in with freedom now”

A carefree perspective is behind his resurgence, which was key to his “nice outcome” in Fulham’s draw with Arsenal earlier this month.

“I really feel actually good taking part in freely,” he reveals. “My first 12 months right here at Fulham wasn’t my finest. Now this 12 months has been higher.

“I attempt to do my finest in each recreation, serving to the staff with objectives, assists and creating areas for different gamers to attain.

“I like being right here and taking part in with this freedom. It is not that it would not hassle me if I miss a ball or if I do not rating a aim, nevertheless it’s one thing that claims to me: ‘D’ “Okay, if I mess up, there will be the following one and the following one, I will do it proper”, so I really feel like I can do higher issues after I’m free. “

Jimenez’s revival has rather a lot to do with Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The Portuguese gambled on the previous Benfica striker in July 2023 after signing him from Wolves for £5.5 million.

At the moment, Jimenez had not scored within the Premier League since March 2022, elevating critical doubts over whether or not he was an appropriate substitute for the talismanic Aleksandar Mitrovic following his big-money transfer to Saudi Arabia.

However regardless of a sluggish begin, Jimenez now returns Silva’s confidence.

“We trusted him when nobody within the Premier League trusted him,” Silva stated of Jimenez final month.

“We have been those who trusted him at a tough second in his profession. We’re actually pleased together with his dynamic and the way in which we helped him get again to his finest degree.”

It is no marvel Jimenez speaks so enthusiastically concerning the 47-year-old.

“He’s [Silva] actually necessary,” he reveals. “He referred to as me final summer season [2023] and he instructed me he wished me to be right here. He wished me to be the striker right here within the staff.

“They have been in search of one and he thought it was a extremely good concept as a result of he knew I nonetheless had it.

“He instructed me that within the final recreation we performed in opposition to you after I was at Wolves, I knew you had it so I am considering of you and I need you to return. In order that confidence brings you extra of confidence.”

“I’m like an enormous brother to Muniz”

Wholesome competitors together with his compatriot Rodrigo Muniz can also be behind Jimenez’s rejuvenation.

With eight extra Premier League begins and 4 extra objectives in all competitions, Jimenez, 33, belies the ten-year age hole between them.

He talks about his relationship with Muniz: “I feel it is probably the greatest rivalries if you wish to name it that, as a result of we play for a similar place.

“I have been elsewhere the place possibly one other striker did not need me to attain so he might play, however right here it is totally different. I feel each second I rating, he scores , we’re pleased.

“There is a 10-year age distinction, however I attempt to assist him as finest I can. I attempt to be like an enormous brother to him and present him the proper issues.”

And their cohesion was then on show within the car parking zone as the 2 joked round when Muniz arrived. Fulham’s coaching floor is at present only a feel-good place.

The west Londoners sit in eighth place and are 4 factors off the highest 4. Silva’s aspect are on a four-match unbeaten run, together with attracts in opposition to title contenders Liverpool and Arsenal.

Jimenez believes they’re “aiming for large issues” and describes this Premier League season as “loopy”, with simply six factors separating fourth-placed Nottingham Forest and Thirteenth-placed Manchester United.

However the place Fulham have struggled to date is in opposition to groups on the different finish of the desk. Their newest defeat got here in opposition to second-placed Wolves as they drew in opposition to strugglers Ipswich and Everton.

Sunday’s house recreation in opposition to managerless Southampton dwell Aerial sports activitiesappears important if Fulham wish to be critical contenders for a European place.

“It will be tough as a result of they sacked the supervisor [Russell Martin]”, says Jimenez. “Generally it performs with them. Additionally they focus extra on the sport, so now we have to be ready.

“They’re on the backside however that does not change something. Our mentality have to be: we’re at house, we should win this match and proceed to climb the desk.

“All of the final video games we did nice issues, nevertheless it will not be good in the event you do not win this house recreation in opposition to one of many final groups. So these are possibly a very powerful video games whenever you suppose that you’ll go there to grasp, however first it’s a must to play the sport to grasp them and make certain that you possibly can struggle for increased issues.

For Jimenez, there’s added incentive at his former relegation-threatened membership Wolves, the place he scored 57 objectives in 166 video games over 5 seasons.

Requested if he plans to assist Previous Gold with a win in opposition to the Saints, he replied: “Sure, after all. I’ll all the time help Wolves as a result of it’s a membership that has given me a number of issues.

“I don’t need them to be relegated after all, but additionally if we can assist them with that form of factor.

“But when we play them once more now at Wolverhampton I positively wish to win, however on this case I wish to assist them.”

Jimenez goals for Premier League report

This weekend’s match in opposition to Southampton might be a milestone for Jimenez.

If he scores twice, he’ll develop into Mexico’s prime scorer within the Premier League, surpassing Javier Hernández’s 53 objectives for Manchester United and West Ham.

“All of the social media is there each time I rating, so I’m conscious of it,” he reveals. “It is going to be an honor. I hope that earlier than the top of the 12 months I’ll get this report and I wish to proceed scoring to make it greater.”

So might Sunday be the day he breaks the report?

“Why not?” he stated. “I wish to purpose for that. I wish to goal, however you by no means know.

“We’re going calmly. Perhaps I do not rating or possibly I rating a hat-trick! It may possibly occur. However I am actually pleased to have the ability to do it.”

He provides: “Perhaps if [the head injury] did not occur then, possibly I’d have damaged the report years in the past. However issues occur for a cause and I’ve the chance, and I am actually pleased about it.

“I’ll purpose for that. I nonetheless have three video games left this 12 months and, properly, I hope to get there earlier than then.”

Whether or not he reaches that milestone on Sunday or subsequent 12 months, it’ll mark one other extraordinary chapter in Jimenez’s exceptional comeback from his fractured cranium.

Watch Fulham v Southampton dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League on Sunday; kick-off at 2 p.m.