By the numbers: Wolves' Adama Traore harmed by Raul Jimenez absence

A lot has been made of the Spaniard’s lack of productivity in the final third, and understandably so given his sheer physical prowess.

But when you look at his statistics for this campaign compared to those for 2019/20, they actually make for very similar reading.

Here, we dive into Traore’s numbers and assess why they have not translated into goals and assists this time around.

Successful take-ons

Last season, Traore earned plaudits for being the most devastating dribbler in Europe’s top five leagues – even better than Barcelona magician Lionel Messi.

And yet again he tops the chart for most successful dribbles across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.

The 25-year-old has raced past his marker on 112 occasions, which is just above Messi on 105. The next best in the Premier League, meanwhile, is Fulham’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (78).

Traore’s successful take-ons per game number is down a bit (going from five to 4.1) but, ultimately, he remains the hardest winger to mark on the continent.

Times fouled

Also worth taking into account is that Traore is being fouled as much as he was last term.

He is taken down 2.2 times per game, which is up very slightly from 2.1 times per match in 19/20.

That puts him seventh in the league, with Villa’s Jack Grealish (4.5 per game) predictably leading the way. Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha (2.9) and Burnley’s Ashley Barnes (2.7) complete the top three.

Traore is still getting just as involved in matches and asking the same questions of defenders as he was last year.

Key passes

Assists have proved elusive, of course, but Traore has managed to make, on average, more key passes (the final pass leading to a shot at goal from a team-mate) this season.

It was 1.3 per game last campaign, and now it is at 1.4.

That is only a marginal difference and fellow Wolves winger Pedro Neto, it is worth nothing, is up at two per match.

But it is also the highest average Traore has managed through his career – tied with his output at Middlesbrough in 2017/18.

Conclusion

So, all in all, Traore is not really doing that much different than last campaign.

He is having fewer shots (0.9 per game after 1.2 last season) and while that is not a huge drop-off, there is an onus on having more attempts and getting closer to Neto, who averages two efforts at goal per game.

What it all appears to boil down to, though, is the absence of Raul Jimenez.

It may sound a little simplistic, but Traore and the Mexican combined for 10 Premier League goals last campaign.

Jimenez got the assist for three of Traore’s goals, and he gladly returned the favour for seven of Jimenez’s goals.

Wolves’ star striker’s lay-off has impacted the whole team, but nobody more so than Traore.