Email
Print
Digg ThisKIEV, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko is just one of a series of injury concerns Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin has been left with ahead of his team's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Georgia and Italy.
"We are now considering his condition," Blokhin told a news conference on Tuesday. "It should not come as a surprise if he doesn't play in Tbilisi (against Georgia on Saturday)."
The Ukraine captain, plagued by a back injury, has not played for Chelsea this season but featured in last month's friendly against Uzbekistan.
Blokhin said the injuries had created serious difficulties, particularly in defence and midfield, for the matches likely to determine Ukraine's chances of qualifying from Group B.
Striker Andriy Vorobei, defender Andriy Nesmachniy and midfielder Taras Mikhalyk are out of the line-up while three other halfbacks, Oleg Gusev, Ruslan Rotan and Maxim Kalinichenko, remain doubtful for Saturday's game and Wednesday's home clash with the world champions.
Blokhin said he had called up Shakhtar Donetsk defender Vyacheslav Shevchyuk as reinforcement.
"I'm most worried about our defence. Previously we had difficulties with our right fullback, now we also have problems on the left side," Blokhin said.
"We also have problems in midfield. All this is making our preparation much more difficult for these very critical games."
France lead the group with 18 points from seven matches, ahead of Italy (16 points) and Scotland (15). Ukraine are fourth with 12 points but have a game in hand on their rivals.
