Ukraine will be without Brentford midfielder Yegor Yarmolyuk when they face Iceland this week, after the 21-year-old was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
Head coach Sergey Rebrov named his 23-man group earlier today, with Yarmolyuk the only absentee. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed, but Rebrov struck an optimistic tone over his potential return in the coming days.
Rebrov provides update on Yarmolyuk
Speaking to the media ahead of the fixture, Rebrov admitted it was disappointing to lose Yarmolyuk for Iceland, but stressed that the issue is not expected to be long-term.
“Unfortunately, Yegor Yarmolyuk will not be able to play tomorrow, but he is recovering. The day after tomorrow he will already work with players in the main group. We hope that Yegor will be ready to play against Azerbaijan.” — Sergey Rebrov, Ukraine manager
The comments suggest Yarmolyuk could rejoin his teammates swiftly, giving Ukraine a boost ahead of their October 13 meeting with Azerbaijan.
Key role for Brentford this season
For Brentford, the update will come as a relief. Yarmolyuk has become a central figure under new manager Keith Andrews, starting all seven Premier League games so far in 2025/26. He has completed 90 minutes in five of those matches, underlining his fitness and importance before this setback.
This marks a significant step forward compared to last season, when he started just 15 league games under Thomas Frank. His emergence has been one of the positives of Brentford’s campaign to date.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes both Ukraine and Brentford will be eager to avoid any complications:
“Yarmolyuk has been on an upward trajectory for the past 12 months. For Ukraine, his energy and box-to-box qualities are becoming increasingly valuable, and for Brentford he is now irreplaceable in midfield. The signs are positive that this is only a short-term issue — but managing his workload carefully will be essential.”
Key Insights
- Yegor Yarmolyuk ruled out of Ukraine’s match against Iceland through injury.
- Sergey Rebrov expects him to return for the game vs Azerbaijan on 13 October.
- The injury has not been specified, but recovery time is short.
- Brentford midfielder has started all 7 Premier League matches this season.
- Has already played more minutes than at the same stage last year.
What’s Next for Ukraine and Brentford?
Ukraine will prepare for Iceland without Yarmolyuk, but will hope to have him back in contention when they face Azerbaijan just days later. Rebrov’s side cannot afford to lose momentum, making his availability crucial.
For Brentford, the international break provides a chance for their young midfielder to reset and recover. Andrews will be eager to see Yarmolyuk return fully fit, with upcoming Premier League fixtures likely to demand his presence in the middle of the pitch.
👉 Will Yegor Yarmolyuk’s swift recovery allow him to continue his breakout season for club and country, or could this be a warning sign about overuse?
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