It’s all AIK as Sky Blues striker in training to help Sweden succeed in Nations League
GYOKERES PREPARING FOR INTERNATIONAL DUTY AFTER BRIEF BREAK
COVENTRY City’s leading scorer Viktor Gyokeres is training with top Swedish club AIK.
The 23-year-old Sky Blues star asked to join the Stockholm-based club, which is also his home city, for training before joining up with his national team for international duty ahead the Nations League matches with the blue and yellows.
Gyokeres has already taken a holiday following the end of a Championship season where he came to prominence with 18 goals for Mark Robins’ men – 17 of which came in the league – and is keen to top up his fitness levels ahead of next week’s national squad training camp.
AIK sports director Henrik Jurelius told Swedish sports newspaper Sportbladet: “We’re glad that he asked the question and wanted to train with us, and for us it is good to create a relationship with the player.”
Gyokeres was selected for national team coach Janne Andersson’s squad for the Nations League matches to come next month. The Sweden squad is due to meet up next Monday in the capital for “recharging” before the opening group game against Slovenia away.
Gyokeres is at home in Stockholm now and is currently training with AIK to keep going, says the report.
“That’s right. He asked the question if he could train with us and for us it is only good to create a relationship with him,” added Jurelius.
However, the report insists that “no recruitment of the striker is relevant,” for the player who will be a wanted man this summer, and has already been linked with interest from newly-promoted Fulham.
City, however, are adamant that they want to keep Gyokeres along with their other star men, Callum O’hare and Gustavo Hamer, during the summer transfer window which officially opens on June 10. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Nations League group games are against Slovenia, Serbia and Norway with Gyokeres stepping up in place of veteran star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 40-year-old, who has scored 62 goals in 121 games on the international stage, is unavailable for selection along with
We’re glad that he asked the question and wanted to train with us, and for us it is good to create a relationship. Henrik Jurelius
another experienced head, Albin Ekdal, with the pair reported to have ‘resigned’ from international competition. Speaking to the Sweden FA’S official website, coach Janne Andersson was asked about the loss of “two important players and leaders in the group now that Zlatan Ibrahimovi and Albin Ekdal have resigned. How does it affect the group?” He said: “Above all, there are two very good football players who unfortunately cannot participate.
“But this is how it is in our sport, sometimes players can not participate and then it is my job to prepare the team I have in the best way. Then there are many good leaders in this player group so there are others who can step forward.”