Former Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle says his old club's sudden form slide is due to losing Raul Jimenez before Christmas.
The Mexico international has been ruled out for the season with a skull fracture and his absence has coincided with Wolves slipping down the table.
Hoddle insists Jimenez's absence has hurt the team, as he was the prime focal point that manager Nuno's system hung upon.
Hoddle said on his podcast, ' The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show': "I think it is, I really think it is (Jimenez's absence). Where would Man United be without (Bruno) Fernandes for the past two months? They wouldn't be leading the league and that's just one player.
"Even if he didn't score, Jimenez, a lot revolved around him as a focal point. One thing Wolves are good at they have (Pedro) Neto, who goes past people, Adama Traore on the right-side who gets crosses in. They get in really good positions to get crosses in.
"But at the moment they don't have anyone who is going to be a threat in the air - and that's their problem."
Before his injury, Jimenez had scored three times in ten Premier League games this season.
And Hoddle admits he's surprised there hasn't been more seen from Wolves in this month's transfer window in terms of finding a replacement for their star Mexican centre-forward.
He added: "I'm surprised they're not going out in this window to find somebody like that. It's not easy in January I know."
Hoddle also responded to reports of super agent Jorge Mendes offering Nuno to Arsenal earlier this season. It was suggested Mendes had made contact with the Gunners as manager Mikel Arteta was struggling to snap their early season form slump. However, with results enjoying an upturn the approach in the end came to nothing.
For Hoddle, the story shouldn't be of concern for those in the locker room, the former England manager arguing that with Nuno signing a new contract and remaining at Molineux should be enough for the players.
He declared, "Well, the manager is still there.
"They've had injuries, (Diogo) Jota went. Jimenez was injured and they've had other injuries. They've had to change the way they're playing. There's been four or five different changes and that's what has upset them.
"I think they may have to revert back to playing with a back three, with wing-backs, and go back to the way they were playing before.
"But they do need a bit more punch in the last third."
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