Vitalii Mykolenko has shared his delight at his Everton chant and has thanked the club for their support during what has been the hardest period of his life.
The left-back made the move to Goodison Park in January and quickly became a fan-favourite in the closing stages of the season with a string of top-notch performances to help the Blues keep their place in the Premier League. That was topped with a brilliant goal on the volley away to Leicester City, which was met with a chant of "He's magic, you know, Vitalii Mykolenko" from the travelling support.
He was delighted to hear that coming from the stands and praised the influence of Frank Lampard in increasing his confidence following a move to the Premier League.
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After being asked about his chant, he told EvertonTV : "He's magic, you know?
"When I signed a contract with Everton I was like an underdog. I worked every day and tried to be stronger and played sometimes well.
"When I heard this song, I was really happy and I can't explain my emotions. My manager helped me a lot. We were talking with him about my game and my confidence, because in football confidence plays a very important role, just like in any other profession.
"He gave me that confidence with which I played in the last season and will try to continue playing in the future."
Shortly after the Ukraine international's arrival at Goodison Park, Russia invaded his home country. Mykolenko admitted that the months that followed were the most tough of his life.
The news from Ukraine continues to be scary for the 23-year-old, but being on the pitch has helped him focus on the football.
He continued to evertonfc.com : "I am okay, my family is okay, they are still in Kyiv. And I hope they will be okay for the future. I speak with them every day and everything is good.
"The first months, from the start of the war, were difficult for everyone, the people of Ukraine. Now I feel good, but I am always watching and reading the news.
"There are lots of bombs and rockets in Ukraine. It is really scary for me.
"That half year [after coming to England] was probably the hardest in my life, it was tough for both the club and for me personally.
"I don’t know how to explain it, but when I was on the pitch – either training or playing – I was completely in the game. That was the place where I would forget about everything and focus on football. I was trying to help the team and the team were helping me, morally."
Everton will host the defender's former club Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park on Friday evening in a "Match For Peace", a charity fundraiser which will directly support the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Mykolenko knows the importance the game will have in terms of maintaining public awareness for his country's plight.
"I had support from day one and say thank you so much for that support from all my teammates and all the coaches," he added.
"Even now, when everything has gone quieter… there is not so much media coverage in the UK, every day some of my teammates and coaches ask me how are things at home, how are things in Ukraine?
"I am very grateful and want to say I am going to fight for this club, because I am well respected and trusted here. I also respect everybody at Everton.
"It is very important for Ukrainian clubs to play these matches and I am very grateful and very happy that I have an opportunity to play for my club against… my native club. It is necessary to maintain the flow of information because the war is still going on… it is necessary to show people that the conflict has not ended, by far.
"To be honest, I am a little bit nervous [about the match]. I will meet my friends, my old team, and I never played against them.
"I want to say thank you so much to my club and our chairman for the support for my country. I have some nerves, but I am very happy to return to Goodison."
Tickets are still available for Everton's match against Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park on Friday and can be purchased here.
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