Everton manager Frank Lampard says Vitaliy Mykolenko is mentally ready to start Everton's FA Cup tie against Boreham Wood.
The Ukrainian left-back has been left understandably shaken since Russia invaded his homeland last week.
Mykolenko this week criticised Russia's football players for not speaking out against Vladimir Putin's regime.
But Lampard has revealed Mykolenko wants to suit up for Everton on Thursday night.
He said: "Mykolenko will play. That was a decision I made regardless of the outside situation - purely on a football decision.
"Of course, you have to be very aware of the life decision for him.
"We'll see about any kind of gesture but the fact is he's starting the game.
"It feels like the training and potential of playing is a relief. We're giving him all the support and I'm sure he feels that from our end.
"He's also a new player here. There are so many things that have happened to him - he's a young man coming over here, moving to a new country, different city, different football club and he's now having to contend with all of this.
"He has all of our support."
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