Andriy Yarmolenko was due to make the squad for the match against Seville but missed out through illness
Yarmo – having been reunite with his family amid the tragedy of the the brutal Russian invasion of the Ukraine – was fit and ready to play.
But answering questions from reporters Moyes revealed his absence was not down to anything other than his health.
He explained: “Yarmolenko I have to say was fit enough and available to go to Spain but unfortunately, he came down with an illness at the last minute, which forced us to change.
We included him in the squad. He felt that he was ready to get back involved again. But it was an illness that we weren’t able to take him so I’m hoping that he could be back around at the weekend but I couldn’t be sure.
You’ve seen the response in other sports and other Premier League clubs that have Ukrainian players. We’re all in huge support of the players and Ukraine.
We want the war to end, we want Ukrainians to be happy and free. It’s the same for Yarmolenko and we’re all thinking of him and his family.
All Ukrainians have got family members in the country whether that be brothers, sisters, mums and dads or cousins and nieces – they all have family members still in the country.”