Essien set to make Panathinaikos debut tonight

Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is set to make his debut for Panathinaikos on Monday night when they play Panetolikos in the Greek top-flight opener after recovering from injury.

The 32-year-old has been named in the Greens’ 20-man squad for the Super League opener in Agrinio despite training with the squad for just three days.

This comes after Essien suffered a new setback to his knee problems in July while training with Panathinaikos which resulted in surgery.

With him being named in the Panathinaikos squad it shows that he has fully recovered from the injury that has prevented him from playing for the Greek side since joining them in June.

Essien signed for Panathinaikos in the summer after leaving Italian giants AC Milan.

The 32-year-old was out of contract after 18 months at the San Siro and was quickly snapped up by the Super League runners-up.

Essien, who was restricted to 22 appearances for Milan because of injuries, signed a two-year contract with the Greek Super League runners- up.

“I am very happy that I am here and that I will continue my career in Panathinaikos,” Essien said when he signed for the club in June.

“I am looking forward to winning trophies with my new team-mates. I want to give back the love that everyone has shown me and to thank the fans that welcomed me so warmly.”

The capture of Essien is a huge coup for Panathinaikos, who have not won a league title since 2010 when Frenchman Djibril Cisse spearheaded the attack.

But after a strong finish to the season under young Greek coach Giannis Anastasiou, they came second behind Olympiakos in the league and went on to clinch Greece’s second Champions League spot via the playoffs.

The Greens will entered European football’s elite competition at the third qualifying round stage.

The Ghana international was a two-time Premier League winner and four-time FA Cup winner during a nine-year association with Chelsea, during which he also spent time on loan at Real Madrid where he was reunited with Jose Mourinho.

Essien joined Chelsea in 2005 after winning two Ligue 1 titles with Lyon.

His time at Milan was interrupted by injury and he was restricted to 22 appearances.