After overcoming an injury setback, French midfielder Jérôme Simon is eager to contribute as Panevėžys heads into a crucial TOPsport A Lyga clash against Sūduva on Sunday.
Jérôme Simon (31), who only joined the club during this winter transfer window, missed the teams’ first encounter of the season, where Panevėžys triumphed 2-0, due to an Achilles tendon issue. Now fully recovered, he is determined to make his presence felt in the rematch. Reflecting to club’s official media on his time sidelined, Simon shared his thoughts ahead of the fixture:
I had an Achilles problem that kept me out, and I think the artificial turf didn’t help, but now I feel great, both physically and mentally. The more I play, the better it gets. I’m ready to help the team.
Panevėžys enters the match with renewed confidence after an impressive 3-2 victory over FK Žalgiris in the final match of the first lap – a result that will be sure to boost morale within the squad. Despite sitting 9th in the table with 10 points, Simon believes his team is on the right path and must maintain their winning mentality against a highly confident Sūduva side, which recently demolished table leaders Hegelmann 4-0.
“We need to keep the same mindset and intensity we showed against Žalgiris—perhaps even more—to secure a good result against a strong opponent. It will be a tough match, but we are ready to fight,” Simon emphasized. With Simon now fit and eager to contribute, Panevėžys will look to turn their recent momentum into another valuable three points.
Kickoff at the Marijampolė Football Arena is scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, May 4, at 16:00 local time.
