Cyriel Dessers has taken a significant step in his recovery journey after returning to training with Panathinaikos as the Greek giants officially kicked off preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
The Super Eagles striker reported to the club’s G. Kalafatis training centre on Thursday alongside his teammates for the first training session under newly appointed head coach Jakob Neestrup. However, Dessers continued to follow an individual rehabilitation programme as he works his way back to full fitness.
The Nigerian forward endured a frustrating debut season in Greece after an injury cut short what had initially looked like a promising spell at Panathinaikos. Dessers had joined the Athens-based club from Rangers in September 2025 and quickly showed signs of becoming an important figure in the squad.
His momentum was halted during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he suffered an injury while representing Nigeria. The setback ruled him out for the remainder of the season and limited his opportunities to make a lasting impact.
Before being sidelined, Dessers delivered one of his standout performances in Panathinaikos colours, scoring and providing an assist in a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Volos. Despite his limited appearances, the striker managed three goals and one assist in just eight matches across all competitions.
With pre-season now underway, Dessers will be eager to complete his recovery and convince Neestrup that he can play a key role in the club’s plans for the new season. The Danish coach is expected to implement a fresh tactical approach, offering players a clean slate ahead of a campaign in which Panathinaikos will be targeting domestic and European success.
For Dessers, the coming weeks could prove crucial as he looks to put an injury-hit year behind him and re-establish himself as one of Nigeria’s most reliable attacking options.
