Croatian striker Bruno Petković is getting closer to returning to football after a multi-month break caused by injury issues. Selçuk İnan, the coach of Turkish side Kocaelispor, revealed when he expects the 32-year-old striker to join training sessions with the rest of the squad.
According to İnan, Petković should rejoin his teammates in two to three weeks, meaning by early November. The coach spoke about the Croatian player's condition after Kocaelispor's 1-2 home defeat to Göztepe on Sunday in the eighth round of the Turkish league. His statement was reported by numerous Turkish media outlets, including Kocaeli Gazetesi.
"Bruno Petković is, of course, our player under contract," İnan said, adding that Petković's treatment is still ongoing. He stated that the planned part of the therapy will conclude on Tuesday or Wednesday, after which Petković will begin individual training. "We are waiting," the coach said.
Petković is expected to finish the current phase of his recovery on 20 or 21 October, followed by individual work. The coach did not confirm when the Croatian striker might play in an official match again.
Petković was injured during Kocaelispor's summer preparations. The club issued a detailed statement on 16 September, noting that the acute injury had been treated, but that examinations revealed structural changes in the tendon tissue linked to previous injuries. It was determined that these existing changes could limit his capabilities on the pitch.
As a result, he was prescribed a special muscle-strengthening programme lasting four to six weeks, after which a gradual return to training is planned. Turkish media warned in early October that Petković was still not training with the team, and further attention was drawn to the fact that the club did not mention him in the latest medical report.
Petković joined Kocaelispor in the summer of 2025 after leaving Dinamo, where he became one of the most important players during seven years. In his first season in Turkey, he made only 20 official appearances due to injuries, scoring seven goals and providing one assist. Due to health issues, he has not yet had the chance to play in the new season.
Kocaelispor sits in eighth place in the Turkish Süper Lig with 12 points after eight rounds of the new season. They suffered a second consecutive defeat against Göztepe on Sunday and will travel to Alanyaspor in the next round. According to the latest information, Petković could finally return to team training in early November.
