Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko has been ruled out of next week’s crucial World Cup qualifier at home to Denmark.

“Andriy will not be able to help us out against the Danes,” spokesman for the Ukrainian Football Federation (UFF) Valery Nikonenko told Reuters on Thursday.

“But he will fly to Kiev on the eve of the game and will give us moral support.”

The European Player of the Year has not played sicne suffering a fractured cheekbone in a Serie A match against Cagliari on February 19.

The loss of their talisma nic striker is a blow to Ukraine, who last week, saw coach Oleg Blokhin resign in order to keep his other job as member of Ukrainian parliament.

Ukraine top European Group Two with 14 points from six matches, six ahead of European champions Greece.