Antonic told to be patient after operation on Achilles
Rangers star signing Dejan Antonic has been told to be 'patient' and 'not to rush into things' after undergoing surgery on a torn Achilles tendon recently. The talented sweeper, who last season captained now-defunct Instant-Dict to FA Cup glory, has been advised by doctors not to rush into making a hasty comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon in Instant-Dict's final game against Happy Valley in the league grand final in June.
Antonic received treatment on his heel during the summer but he said: 'The problem flared up again when I trained with Rangers last month and I had surgery done on it immediately.
'I'm not sure when I am going to be back [in action]. The doctor said maybe a few months or anything between two or eight months or even one year. But I am very optimistic and my physiotherapy is going well so far,' said the 32-year-old Yugoslav, who went under the knife at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Antonic said he went against conventional wisdom by playing 'extra hard' in Instant-Dict's final league matches despite carrying the injury. 'I wanted to do my best for my team and for my friends. I had some very important games to play and my Achilles tendon was giving me problems before so I used pain killers.
'Then I received a very hard knock in our final match against Happy Valley. My tendon almost snapped, but it still held on somehow.
'Things got better during the summer, but when I did some laps when training for Rangers, I felt my Achilles tendon bothering me again and that's when I made the decision to have surgery on it,' he added.
Antonic, who is one of four foreign players signed by Rangers this season, is in close contact with his Yugoslav doctor in Belgrade and a local doctor at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
'My Yugoslav doctor works with Red Star Belgrade and he is very good and he calls me every week to check up on me. He says to me: 'Dejan, I know you are a professional player, but you just have to be patient'.
'He told me that I should rest two more weeks than required just to make sure that the injury is fully healed.
'But everything is going smoothly now. There is no infection and I am beginning to walk, although it is still a bit hard.'
Antonic is considered one of the best defenders in Hong Kong. Not only did he play a pivotal role in helping Instant-Dict win the FA Cup and reach the league's grand final last season, he also played a supporting role in helping the Hong Kong League XI reach the final of the Carlsberg Cup this year.
Rangers begin their campaign without Antonic when they take on Hong Kong Football Club at Mongkok Stadium in the first of two matches scheduled on Sunday. Sun Hei play Double Flowers in the other match.
