West Ham captain supports Andriy Yarmolenko in ‘horrendous’ situation
Mark Noble has spoken out on West Ham teammate Andriy Yarmolenko amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The winger missed the Hammers trip to Anfield whilst on compassionate leave, despite returning to training.
Noble shared his elation that the Ukrainian is back with his family whilst showing his support.
“I don’t think anyone can put into perspective what Andriy has been through in the last couple of weeks,” he told West Ham.
“It’s horrendous and knowing Yarma as I do – he’s a fantastic person and a great lad around the changing room. For him to have his family stuck there for a while was awful.
“Thank God they’re with him now. I think he needed a bit of time to clear his head because what’s happening in his country is so sad.
“He knows we’re here for him when he needs us and I’m pretty sure he’ll be back to his smiley self soon.”
Support
Now that Yarmolenko has his family out of harm’s way with them living in Ukraine amid the conflict, the 32-year-old might be able to return to the squad on a regular basis.
The ongoing war is of course still horrific and will have its emotional impact on the maestro but football, as it often does, could provide a much-needed distraction.
No good will come from dwelling on the current crisis so it would be best for the 32-year-old to throw himself into work and what he does best at that, football.
The club will undoubtedly give him more time if and when he needs to step back from football with his home nation under such high threat but the support, he has received from
There are so many more important things going on in the world at the moment than football but if the Ukrainian can come back and help in any way in the Hammers’ push for Champions League football, it would be great.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are ‘not planning’ on a permanent deal for Alex Kral
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