Ukraine crisis: Andriy Yarmolenko won't be rushed - West Ham boss David Moyes

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Media caption,

West Ham boss David Moyes hopes sanctions leave Russia 'isolated completely'

Ukraine forward Andriy Yarmolenko will not be rushed into returning for West Ham as his nation continues to fight the invasion by Russia.

Yarmolenko, 32, was given compassionate leave last week and returned to the club on Monday.

"He's really upset with the whole situation," said West Ham manager David Moyes.

"He realises the difficulty. He is a long way away and can't do anything about it."

Yarmolenko, who has won 106 caps for Ukraine, missed West Ham's 1-0 Premier League win over Wolves on Sunday.

The Hammers play Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday and Moyes says Yarmolenko will decide if he is ready to play.

"He came back in yesterday; we had a good chat," said Moyes.

"We won't rush him. If he feels fine, he will travel with the team. If he doesn't we will give him more time off.

"We will give him a chance to go with his own feelings."

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

West Ham showed a message of support to Yarmolenko and Ukraine before Sunday's match against Wolves

Before Sunday's match at London Stadium, West Ham captain Declan Rice held up a shirt with Yarmolenko's name and number on the back, and both sides lined up to express their support for him and Ukraine.

"We would like to offer him more help and more support," said Moyes.

"We are speaking to him most days. The players were great with him yesterday - they tried to integrate him and made him feel really welcome and his family."

On Monday, Russian football clubs and national teams were suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa "until further notice".

Moyes said he "totally agreed" with the decision and suggested it could have been made even quicker.

"Football is such a powerful tool all round the world. Every country watches the Premier League," he said.

"Because of that, it is really important that we take action and make sure we isolate Russia completely. I am not a politician but that's how I feel about the football side."

'Football is ridiculous at the moment' - Hasenhuttl

After Wednesday's fixture against the Hammers, Southampton take on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday and will wear their yellow and blue away kit - the same colours as the Ukrainian flag - in the fixture in a show of solidarity.

The sister of Southampton's Brazilian defender Lyanco has fled Ukraine to reach her homeland.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "It's a human catastrophe what happens and every team has players that are affected.

"I have been really struggling for one week to concentrate on my job, to concentrate on ridiculous football in the moment.

"The only good thing is that you have two or three hours during the game where you're not thinking about it.

"The rest of the day is affected by worrying about children, women, people dying in a needless war."

Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, BBC Sport