Williams Troost-Ekong, most treasured Player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, is eager to return stronger after undergoing surgery in Finland on Tuesday following an injury he sustained during the tournament in Ivory Coast.

The 30-year-old will be out of action between three to six months for for rehabilitation due to ruptured biceps femoris in his right leg.

The defendersustained a hamper injury during Nigeria’s second game against Ivory Coast and was eventually resting for the final group game against Guinea-Bissau. He, however, played the rest of the tournament and become visible as the best player.

After his magnificent performance at the AFCON, the injury might have extinguish the transfer suppositions around him but the player says he will return in a stronger shape for both club and country.

“I managed to continue in the knockout stages, and I was willing to continue to do the same now to help PAOK push for the prizes in the league and Europe too. But after more assessments and consultations it was the best decision long-term to undergo surgery now. My full focus is on getting back better than ever before.”

“As many know, I got injured during AFCON. Disappointingly, this injury has turned out to be more serious than first thought. I have always given everything and pushed myself. Every player has played with pain at some point in their career to fight for club or country. Its part of the game,” the player said on Tuesday.

Troost-Ekong scored three goals at the AFCON, including a powerful header against Ivory Coast in the final, which Nigeria lost 2-1.

He became Nigeria’s highest-scoring defender in the tournament history, the second Nigerian defender after Christian Chukwu to win the Prestigious Man of The Tournament award and the first defender since Rigobert Song won it at the 2002 edition in Mali.

Reports indicate that the injury has worsened, which could possibly end his season.

With the footballer set to be out for a long time period, the Greek club can activate a compensation from FIFA due to the way in which he sustained the injury.

The FIFA insurance project for players instituted by FIFA permits clubs to be paid when they loses a player to injury for longer than 28 days because of engagements with their countries.