'Shakhtar Donetsk are ready for Europa League', declares Olanrewaju Kayode

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'Shakhtar Donetsk are ready for Europa League', declares Olanrewaju Kayode image

Olanrewaju Kayode has declared Shakhtar Donetsk's readiness for the Europa League knockout stages.

Fresh off his two-goal showing in their 6-1 mid-season friendly victory over Bulgarian outfit Botev Plovdiv, the striker has set his sights on the Miners' first major assignment of 2019.

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Earlier, Paulo Fonseca's men dropped from the Champions League to the second-tier European competition, and their first task is a round of 32 clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

And the former Girona striker feels they are in good shape to face the German Bundesliga side.

"I’m very happy that we’ve achieved such an excellent result," Kayode told club website, after the win over Botev.

"We played well and fought to the very end, although the opponents also tried to display their strong qualities. They are not weak opponents, we’ve just worked harder today, we acted as one team and therefore we won.

"Form-wise, we’re ready for the Europa League games.

"I’m also focused on training. I need to compete [for] both for myself, to be stronger, and for Shakhtar."

A delay to the start of his season has seen Kayode drop in the striking pecking order at Shakhtar.

The 25-year-old has played only 10 times across all competitions this season, with no success in front of goal yet. However, with three goals recorded so far in their mid-season friendlies, the striker will hope to translate the form when competitive football resume in Europe, and Ukraine.

Thursday's tune-up encounter against Wacker Innsbruck precedes their Europa League engagements with Frankfurt [February 14 & 21] before they return to top-flight action with Oleksandria on February 25.

 

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