Michael Essien has been ruled out of Panathinaikos’s Europa League play-off tie against Azerbaijani side FK Qabala.
The Ghana midfielder, who joined the Greek giants this summer on a free transfer, is not ready to return to the field after undergoing surgery last month.
Essien has started running but Panathinaikos do not want to risk him and will miss both games to be played this month.
The Greens will travel to the S?h?r stadionu on 19 August and host the return leg the following week.
Panathinaikos hope the former Chelsea and AC Milan player will be ready for the Super League.