Kiril Despodov nears return to pitch following surgery

Bulgarian national team captain Kiril Despodov is nearing a return to competitive football following surgery on his toe. After an infection necessitated an operation in early May, Despodov has progressed to an individual recovery program that includes running on the pitch.

Despodov may be available to travel with his club, PAOK, for their Europa League rematch against Anderlecht. While Despodov makes progress, PAOK coach Răzvan Lucescu faces selection challenges, as the player is one of five individuals currently unavailable for the upcoming fixture.