Panathinaikos footballer Pavlos Pantelidis has revealed he is aiming to return to action in December or January after suffering a serious lower leg injury two months ago. Speaking on the Greek sports webcast The Football Show by Stoiximan, produced by news portal protothema.gr, the winger outlined his rehabilitation timeline and cleared up public misconceptions regarding the nature of his injury.
Pantelidis clarified that early reports claiming he had fractured both his tibia and fibula were incorrect, confirming that his main shinbone was undamaged and that he had actually suffered a comminuted fracture of the fibula. He added that his recovery was progressing better than perfect under the guidance of the Panathinaikos medical staff.
A comminuted fracture involves the bone shattering into multiple fragments, requiring specialized medical intervention and a structured rehabilitation process. Pantelidis underwent surgery following the incident and admitted that the initial weeks after the operation were exceptionally difficult for both himself and his family. He noted that he had been constantly visualizing the moment of his comeback ever since leaving the operating room.
The forward joked about the intensity of his daily physical therapy program, stating that he was currently running more during his recovery sessions than he did while playing matches. He expressed strong confidence that the thorough medical treatment would allow him to return to top form for his club.
Greek national team progress
Reflecting on his recent involvement with the Greece national team, Pantelidis observed that significant positive changes had taken place within the international setup. He stated that he could see something very big coming for Greek football and insisted that the players currently in the national squad fully deserved to qualify for a major international tournament.
Pantelidis revealed that Greece national team head coach Ivan Jovanovic called him on the phone immediately after his injury occurred. The player described feeling in total shock upon receiving the call and praised Jovanovic as an exceptional human being for whom he holds immense respect. Jovanovic previously served as manager of Panathinaikos before taking over the national side.
Turning to Greece's international matches, Pantelidis highlighted the remarkable rise of fellow Greek forward Andreas Tetteh. He recalled that just three years ago, he and Tetteh were facing each other in a Second Division derby for Athens based club Kifisia FC as both teams battled for promotion. He noted that Tetteh was now competing against elite European opponents such as Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
Assessing Greece's prospects against top tier opposition like Germany, Pantelidis stated that there is no ceiling in football and that the national team could go very far if the squad maintained its hunger. He asserted that Greece currently possessed better players than Germany who were enjoying superior domestic seasons compared to their German counterparts, adding that the team had nothing to fear regardless of where they play.
Panathinaikos form and new manager
Panathinaikos have made a strong start to their domestic and continental campaigns, sitting at the top of the Super League Greece standings while also securing qualification in European competition. Pantelidis noted that he fully expected this level of success because the positive trajectory was already evident during the club's pre-season training camp in the Netherlands.
He explained that the squad demonstrated a healthy culture and strong unity from the beginning of pre-season, with the positive atmosphere in the dressing room translating directly onto the pitch. Pantelidis added that new summer signings integrated seamlessly into the team without requiring time to adapt, despite recognizing the heavy pressure associated with playing for a major club like Panathinaikos.
Pantelidis spoke warmly of Panathinaikos's new head coach, expressing gratitude for the trust the manager showed in him prior to his injury. He said the coach quickly understood his key qualities, particularly his sprint speed and goalscoring instinct, assuring him that those traits would take him far. Pantelidis stated he was set for a very strong start to the season before the injury interrupted his campaign.
Career goals and Premier League ambition
Looking toward his long term career goals, Pantelidis emphasized his commitment to Panathinaikos once his rehabilitation is complete. He explained that his immediate focus was on returning to the pitch, performing well, and helping the team maintain its momentum in domestic and European competitions.
He also discussed his childhood aspirations, revealing that he had always dreamed of playing in the English Premier League as a young boy. Pantelidis added that he supports Manchester United in English football, though his primary focus remains on completing his recovery and rejoining Panathinaikos in December or January.
