Another Blow for Armenia: Mkrtchyan to Miss Four Matches

Nürnberg defender Styopa Mkrtchyan will not join the Armenia national team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches scheduled from September 25 to October 5. As a result, one of Armenia’s first-choice centre-backs will miss all four upcoming games.

The 23-year-old footballer revealed the news in a conversation with journalist Suren Meliksetyan.

Earlier, the Football Federation of Armenia announced the national team squad for the September-October matches, with Mkrtchyan included in the list. However, the defender has not managed to fully recover and will ultimately be unable to join the national team camp.

“I had been preparing for the national team’s upcoming matches for a long time. Unfortunately, I was unable to fully recover and join my team. I have dreamed of playing for the Armenia national team since childhood, and I will continue to do so.

I am grateful to the coaching staff for the call-up. I am very sorry that I will not be able to join the team this time.

I hope that I will be fully ready for the November matches and will be able to help the team. I wish my national team success in the upcoming games,” Mkrtchyan said.

Armenia therefore continue to face serious squad problems ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

It was previously confirmed that defenders Kamo Hovhannisyan and Edgar Grigoryan, midfielders Vahan Bichakhchyan, David Davidyan and Hovhannes Harutyunyan, forwards Grant-Leon Ranos, Finn Heragousian and Norberto Briasco-Balekian, as well as goalkeeper Henri Avagyan, will also miss the matches due to injuries.

With Mkrtchyan unavailable, Armenia’s coaching staff will have to find a new combination in central defence for the four upcoming Nations League matches.

Argishti Petrosyan has been called up to the Armenian national team to replace Styopa Mkrtchyan