Ft7Ball
LONDON. Everton’s Ukrainian defender Vitalii Mykolenko will play in Thursday’s FA Cup tie against Boreham Wood just 48 hours after his harsh criticism of Russia captain Artem Dzyuba over the invasion of his country.
Mykolenko, who joined Everton from Dynamo Kyiv in January, used an expletive-filled social media post to strongly condemn Dzyuba and his teammates for their silence on Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
Since then, Russia has been banned from all international competitions by FIFA and UEFA.
Everton manager Frank Lampard has said the 22-year-old has the backing of the club and will start when the non-league side visit Goodison Park for the fifth-round clash.
“He will play and that was a decision I made regardless of the outside situation. It feels like training and the potential to play is a relief for him,” Lampard told reporters on Wednesday.
“The conversations I’ve had with him I prefer to keep private because they’re sensitive, but right now we’re giving him our full support and I’m sure he feels it from us.”
Mykolenko hugged his Ukraine team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko on the pitch before Manchester City played Everton last weekend, as Toffees fans showed their support for the pair with an emotional reception.
Admitting it was vital to show solidarity with Mykolenko at such a difficult time, Lampard said: “He’s a new player here so a lot has happened to him, let alone moving here when he was young, coming to a different country. , a different city and a different football club.
“Now he has to deal with all of this, so he has our full support on that front.”
Mykolenko, who joined Everton from Dynamo Kyiv in January, used an expletive-filled social media post to strongly condemn Dzyuba and his teammates for their silence on Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
Since then, Russia has been banned from all international competitions by FIFA and UEFA.
Everton manager Frank Lampard has said the 22-year-old has the backing of the club and will start when the non-league side visit Goodison Park for the fifth-round clash.
“He will play and that was a decision I made regardless of the outside situation. It feels like training and the potential to play is a relief for him,” Lampard told reporters on Wednesday.
“The conversations I’ve had with him I prefer to keep private because they’re sensitive, but right now we’re giving him our full support and I’m sure he feels it from us.”
Mykolenko hugged his Ukraine team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko on the pitch before Manchester City played Everton last weekend, as Toffees fans showed their support for the pair with an emotional reception.
Admitting it was vital to show solidarity with Mykolenko at such a difficult time, Lampard said: “He’s a new player here so a lot has happened to him, let alone moving here when he was young, coming to a different country. , a different city and a different football club.
“Now he has to deal with all of this, so he has our full support on that front.”
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