Wolves hero John Richards says Raul Jimenez should be kept on beyond the January market.

Richards, who netted 194 times for Wolves, believes the club will benefit from Mexico crashing out of the World Cup and hopes Jimenez will have time to get up to speed for the Premier League.

"I know there's been some disquiet he was playing for Mexico while he wasn't pitching up to play for Wolves," Richards told the Express & Star.

"But when you look at it realistically, it's not a bad thing when he's had these few substitute appearances and he's come through.

"He's now got another four or five weeks, I'm pleased Mexico are out! At least now he's not going to get injured in games away from Wolves and he comes back a bit earlier.

"He can get settled into the team and training and whatever way the manager wants to play.

"That's a positive to me, and he's a key player for us. I'd like to think playing for Mexico, having a bit of a rest now, he'll be raring to go, because he's a top-class player, I'm sure once the goals start flowing he'll be back to his normal self.

"That's what we're missing. It's demoralising for the rest of the team, they know if we go one down in the current situation then it's 'where do we get a goal from?'

"Whereas if you have players like Jimenez up front knocking them in, and others contributing, if gives you that little more confidence of coming back into games.

"I'd still like to think they will look elsewhere as well, to bring another striker in."