Everton manager Frank Lampard has stated that the club’s Ukrainian player Vitalii Mykolenko is receiving “every bit of support we could possibly give him.”
Mykolenko’s native Ukraine has been invaded by Russia with the BBC now reporting that Russian forces have reached the capital city Kyiv, where the left-back played his club football with Dynamo before his January transfer to Goodison Park.
Asked how the 22-year-old was, Lampard said: “He’s ok. I’ve spoken to him, the club have spoken to him.
“He has every bit of support we could possibly give him from our end in terms of personal touch, club support, if and when he needs it.
READ MORE: Everton clarify USM position amid concerns over situation in Russia
EXCLUSIVE: Mason Holgate gives verdict on squad and sends message to Everton fans
“Who knows how we can help him and how much we can help him but he knows that support mechanism is there.
“He’s only been here for a short period as well so it’s ultra-important that he feels that from us, and he does.
“The decision of whether to play or be available is between me and him to speak about.”
Meanwhile, Lampard offered fitness updates on several other members of his squad who have been sidelined through injury and revealed he’ll be making late calls on Demarai Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure for Saturday evening’s visit of reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
He said: “Ben Godfrey won’t be back. He’s still a couple of weeks away which was always the case we Ben.
*Pick your Everton squad ahead of the game tomorrow
“He’s progressing well but it was always going to be a five-weekish injury which gives him another couple of weeks.
“With Doucoure and Gray, they’re both training with us now and in the squad.
“Whether they’ll start is an issue for me because Doucoure has been out for five weeks now and with Demarai we have to make sure that coming into a game of this type of physical output that’s needed to get the performance and potential result, it’s a big ask.
“I’ll have to decide whether they’re ready to start but they’re both been training with us for the last two or three days so it’s good to have them back in the squad.”
