Frustrating 2019 for injury-plagued Wernbloom
Pontus Wernbloom has endured a thoroughly frustrating 2019, with the veteran Swedish midfielder failing to make a single appearance for PAOK during the entire calendar year as he continues to struggle with injury problems.
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In mid-December 2018, Wernbloom ruptured his achilles tendon during a Super League match against Levadiakos, however he was expected to return with a six-month period.
Initially, his recovery program seemed to be working successfully, and he trained with PAOK in the first stage of pre-season training in the Netherlands. However, the injury from 2018 began flaring up again, with swelling appearing around the bone. Wernbloom has since remained on the sidelines as he continues to nurse the injury which is still keeping him out of action.
PAOK’s head of medical services, Manolis Papakostas, explained that Wernbloom’s effort throughout his recovery has been outstanding: "In my career so far, I have never seen another athlete try so hard to recover from an injury,” Papakostas said.
Wernbloom expressed his frustration of his injury-plagued year and his desire to return back to playing football. “I can’t even watch matches anymore, I want to train and have the smell of the dressing room again. I returned for around a month, but then the same injury returned,” stated the 33-year-old defensive midfielder. At the moment, there is no set date for Wernbloom’s return, but he is aiming to train with the main group again in early 2020.
His long absence has been a major concern for PAOK, with Wernbloom holding the status as one of the club’s highest-paid players. Overall, since joining PAOK in the summer of 2018 from CSKA Moscow, the Swede has only competed in a grand total of 16 matches for the Dikefalos tou Vorra. His contract is due to expire in the summer of 2021.
