Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy admits everyone at the club missed having Raul Jimenez involved with the first team.

The Mexican forward spent nearly the entire season out with a fractured skull after a serious collision with David Luiz in a game against Arsenal last term.

Now he is fully fit and was involved in Wolves' friendly defeat to Crewe on Saturday.

He played 34 minutes and looked close to his old self.

Ruddy said, per the Express and Star: "To see him on the pitch was brilliant and I think we saw exactly what he brings to the team in the half an hour he had

"His link-up play was intelligent. The way he presses for us is vital.

"It's been a long journey for him but we're delighted to have him back and we're looking forward to even more of it.

"He's done all the tests and gone through everything and that's testament to our medical team.

"They've made sure he's ticked any box he needed to before he stepped out on to that pitch.

"You can see it, he's well up for it. His intelligence and heading ability, it hasn't really been affected. You can't underestimate what he brings.

"We had a lot of different factors last year, a bit of unbalance and some indifferent performances last season.

"But without a shadow of a doubt, Raul being out was the biggest miss for the team.

"It's very rare that you come across a player that is so valuable to a team, but that's exactly what Raul is. He starts the press for us and is such an intelligent player. He's dangerous."