Wolves have been dealt a major setback after it was confirmed striker Raul Jimenez will have to undergo surgery on his left knee.
The Mexican has been sidelined since he was withdrawn in the first half of the EFL Cup defeat to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Jimenez returned to Molineux in the summer after spending three years with Fulham and the 35-year-old has netted three times for Cesar Peixoto's side.
He opened his account from the penalty spot in his returning appearance during the 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers on the opening night of the Championship season, and scored again from 12-yards against Stoke City.
Jimenez was handed the captain's armband in the 2-2 draw against Birmingham City before finding the back of the net from open play in the 1-0 success over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Wolves hoped Jimenez would be available again after the three-week international window, but the striker has not responded as hoped to treatment for the medial collateral ligament injury he sustained against Everton.
We've taken a look at how long Jimenez could be out for.
When is Raul Jimenez expected to return from his knee injury?
Wolves director of performance Phil Hayward admitted Jimenez will be out of action until January at the earliest.
"Unfortunately Raul's injury has not responded as we expected," said Hayward.
"Normally the ligament for a fairly low-grade injury would heal on its own, however this has not responded as we were expecting, and after regularly scanning for the last three weeks, the ligament is not healing in the anticipated way.
"So, he'll have the surgery on Friday (16th October) in London, and then he'll have around three months of rehabilitation before he's ready to play again."
Assuming Jimenez's rehabilitation goes as planned, the Mexican will miss a minimum of 16 Championship matches before he might be in contention to return.
Wolves will be in FA Cup third round action on the weekend of 9th/10th January before hosting Burnley in the Championship on the following week. Peixoto's side then face Cardiff City, Bristol City and Wrexham before the month is out.
