Adelaide United have shown great faith in young midfielder Nathan Konstandopoulos, signing him to a one-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 23-year-old suffered a cruel blow last month when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in training.
Off-contract at the end of the 2019/20 Season, Konstandopoulos faced an uncertain future as he began his rehabilitation.
But the Reds have decided to extend his deal for another year in a huge relief for Konstandopoulos.
“Obviously I’m delighted the club has given me the opportunity to re-sign despite my current injury,” he said on the Reds’ official website.
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“It’s always an honour to represent your hometown club and to remain here in Adelaide and to know where my future lies means I can now solely focus on my recovery and coming back even stronger.
“I hope to return to the pitch as soon as possible but know I must be patient with the recovery process and do everything right to ensure I return in the best possible shape.”
In his second stint with his hometown club, Konstandopoulos has featured 62 times for the Reds in all competitions, scoring five goals.
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He made his Hyundai A-League debut for Adelaide as a 17-year-old back in 2014 and was seen as a key member of Gertjan Verbeek’s side before his injury struck.
“Nathan is a great professional and a fantastic asset to the football club,” Reds Director of Football Bruce Djite said.
“It was devastating for us all when scans confirmed he had suffered such a serious knee injury.
“Despite Nathan coming off contract with a significant injury, as a club, not only do we believe he has the ability to return and have a positive impact on the field, we also believe it’s important to provide the necessary support to Nathan as he continues his rehab.
“We’re happy we were able to extend Nathan’s contract so now he can fully focus on returning to football and not have to worry about where his future lies.”
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More re-signing news! 😍💪✍️ #AUFChttps://t.co/Ow7MkXkVzu
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) March 5, 2020
Konstandopoulos will be watching from the stands on Saturday as Adelaide United host Western United FC in a key clash for a spot in this year’s Finals Series.
Adelaide United v Western United
Saturday, 7 March 2020
Kick off: 5.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
