Anderlecht striker Danylo Sikan has been rewarded for his strong start to the season with a call-up to the Ukraine national team. The 25-year-old forward, who has scored six goals this term, returns to the Ukraine squad after an absence of nearly three years.
Sikan's last appearance for his country came in November 2023. Since then, he has rediscovered his form at Anderlecht, with five of his goals coming in Europa League qualifying rounds. He now has seven caps to his name. Ukraine will face Hungary, Georgia, and Northern Ireland in the Nations League.
Lukas Ambros also makes a notable step forward. The defender has been called up for the first time to the Czech national team, a recognition of his performances since arriving in Brussels.
International duties
The call-ups mean Anderlecht will be without a handful of players during the upcoming international break. Alongside Sikan and Ambros, Ayoub Maamar and Tawfik Bentayeb (Morocco), Oleg Reabciuk (Moldova), Charlie Aasgaard (Norway), and Marko Cvetkovic (Serbia) also have international commitments. Cvetkovic was, incidentally, the only goalscorer for Anderlecht in the 1-2 defeat to Lyon last Wednesday.
The manager will have to adjust his lineup for Saturday evening's home match against Zulte Waregem. Anderlecht currently sit seventh in the Jupiler Pro League with ten points from six games. This weekend's opponent, Zulte Waregem, occupies fifth place. The last meeting between the two sides, in February, ended in a 2-4 victory for Anderlecht.
Sikan's selection comes at an important time. Anderlecht has struggled to score in the league, with just four goals in six matches. The confidence shown in him by the Ukraine head coach could give the striker a boost ahead of the key home fixture. The absence of several regular starters demands creativity but also opens doors for others in the squad.
The home support hopes the international recognition will boost morale within the group. After a patchy run of results, with two wins, a draw, and two losses in the last five league games, consistency is needed. The match against Zulte Waregem offers a chance to cut into the six-point gap to leaders Union St. Gilloise. The call-ups have been officially confirmed by the respective national federations.
This story first appeared at HLN Voetbal
