PAOK confirms Pelkas and Louce out for OFI clash as Despodov nears return

PAOK is preparing for its upcoming away match against OFI at the Pankritio Stadium, with manager Alessio Lisi finalizing his plans. The coach faces a significant setback as he confirmed that two key players will not be available for the trip to Crete.

Dimitris Pelkas and Tom Louce have been definitively ruled out of the squad. Both players underwent treatment and completed individual gym sessions during the training on October 23, 2026, making them unavailable for selection.

On a more positive note, Bulgarian midfielder Kiril Despodov demonstrated encouraging progress. He participated in the majority of Friday's training session and increased his intensity, suggesting he is nearing a return to the full team routine.

The team's training at Nea Mesimvria emphasized tactical details and set pieces, which are considered crucial for the demands of the match in Heraklion. This focus followed standard warm-ups and possession exercises.

Preparations will conclude with a final session at Toumba stadium on the morning of October 24, 2026. Following this practice, the club will announce the travel squad before departing for Crete via charter flight in the afternoon.