Midfielder Georgiy Sudakov has left the Ukraine national team camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Hungary after sustaining an ankle joint sprain during a fixture against Northern Ireland, with the Benfica player expected to return to his club for recovery.
Midfielder Georgiy Sudakov departed the national squad’s camp after picking up an injury during the team’s match against Northern Ireland, as reported by the Ukrainian Association of Football.
Sudakov Exits Camp Following Northern Ireland Match
Sudakov sustained his injury during the match against Northern Ireland, which ended in a 0:3 defeat for the Ukrainian side. In the early stages of the second half, the midfielder was on the receiving end of a tough tackle from Brodie Spencer, who received a yellow card for the challenge. Although Sudakov attempted to continue playing through the pain, he was eventually substituted in the 68th minute and left the field alongside medical staff.
Teammate Eduard Sarapiy noted after the match that Sudakov was visibly limping and expressed concern that the injury could be serious. The player himself took to social media to address his early departure from the national team setup.
Not how I wanted to finish this gathering. Unfortunately, due to injury, it ends early for me.
The Ukrainian Association of Football confirmed the departure through official channels, announcing that the player would not feature in the upcoming fixture.
Georgiy Sudakov will not help the national team in the match against Hungary. Through an injury in the game against Northern Ireland, the midfielder will not play in the next match. Georgiy is returning to the club’s location. We wish a quick and high-quality recovery.
Valeriy Bondar defended Dmytro Riznyk following the 0:3 defeat against Northern Ireland, while Ehor Nazarina also explained the reasons behind the loss. Northern Ireland defender Ciaron Brown, who scored a brace, commented on his goals and the unfolding events on the pitch. Prior to these fixtures, Vitaliy Mykolenko left the team camp and missed the matches against Georgia and Northern Ireland.
Sudakov Misses Championship Match but May Face Celtic
Upon returning to Lisbon, Sudakov underwent an advanced medical examination with his club, Benfica.
The timeline for his return indicates he will miss Benfica’s upcoming Portuguese championship match against Vitória Guimarães scheduled for October 11. Manager Markus Silva expects to have the player available for the UEFA Europa League fixture against Scottish side Celtic on October 15. The player has accumulated 13 appearances in all competitions for his club this season, contributing one assist, and made his debut for the national team on May 23, 2021.
Ukraine Group Standing Ahead of Hungary Fixture
Sudakov’s absence compounds squad depth issues for manager Andria Maldera, coming as the second major personnel loss of the international window following the departure of Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Ukraine enters the fourth round occupying second place in Group 2 of League B with four points from three matches. Although tied on points with Hungary, the Ukrainian side holds the higher position due to the head-to-head tiebreaker, having secured a 1:0 victory in their first meeting thanks to an assist from Sudakov to Danylo Sikan. Northern Ireland leads the group with seven points, while Georgia sits in fourth place with one point.