West Ham boss David Moyes shares ‘terrible’ Andriy Yarmolenko view
David Moyes has lifted the lid on West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko amid the Ukrainian’s return from compassionate leave for the clash against Aston Villa.
The 32-year-old came from off the bench to score the opener for the Hammers having been included in a matchday squad for the first time since February.
Irons boss, Moyes, hopes Yarmolenko can act as a beacon of hope as his home country continues to suffer from Russian invasion.
The Scot told talkSPORT: “Yarmolenko getting his goal today will be a great moment for him.
“It’s been a terrible time and that’s the first time we’ve put him on the bench since the war started.
“He’s not felt quite right, he was ill in midweek so we couldn’t take him to Seville. But he came on today and sometimes these things are written.
“I think, for everybody, it’s something that you would be emotional about because this boy’s family and different people connected to him are in Ukraine, as are all the Ukrainians who are having to go through this.
“So, for them to turn out and play professional sport and try and perform, it can’t be easy for. But he made a difference today with his goal.”
Fairy-tale
As Moyes said, these things sometimes are just “written” in the stars.
Everybody would have hoped but few would have genuinely believed the attacker would come on to score in his first game back and boy does he deserve it.
He has gone through hell in recent weeks, worrying about his family, friends and country whilst being in England barely being able to concentrate on the so-called important football to play.
This situation has really put some things into perspective and seeing the Hammer suffer hasn’t been easy for the club or fanbase.
He got a brilliant reception for both sets of fans in the London Stadium yesterday and the emotional scenes from him and the supporters after his goal and at full-time was magnificent.
Hopefully, he can return on a regular basis and help the Hammers achieve their targets in a hugely important final couple of months of the season.
In other West Ham news, Declan Rice can’t settle with the Irons out of loyalty – Dean Jones.
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