GOOD EVENING FROM DNIPRO
Welcome to our live coverage of the international friendly match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland at the Dnipro Arena ahead of the delayed Euro 2020 competition.
Ian Baraclough’s men failed to qualify for the summer’s European championship last year in November when they lost their play-off final against Slovakia at Windsor Park.
However, the Green and White Army are still looking to leave a mark tonight against Ukraine, who have advanced for the group stage where they will face Austria, the Netherlands and North Macedonia.
Northern Ireland manager Baraclough will have Arsenal loanee Dan Ballard and Kyle Lafferty available; the duo missed Sunday’s friendly at Malta as they had been involved with play-off games for Blackpool and Kilmarnock respectively.
Chelsea’s 19-year-old reserve Sam McClelland could be handed his first ever cap after Liverpool’s 17-year-old ace Conor Bradley was given his first senior minutes against Malta.
Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko is set for a major boost as West Ham ace Andriy Yarmolenko has returned after overcoming ligament damage.
However, Shevchenko is going to be without Shakhtar Donetsk star Yevhen Konoplyanka, who has pulled out of the squad for tonight’s friendly due to a torn muscle but there is still hope he will be back in time for Euro 2020
