Former Premier League, striker Sergei Rebrov has vowed to return to Ukraine to help his people amid Russia’s invasion.

Rebrov, 47, is currently in the Middle East managing Emirati side Al-Ain. He has guided his side to top spot in the Arabian Gulf League, as well as to a domestic cup final.

At the end of the campaign, the former Tottenham and West Ham ace will return to Ukraine to ‘fight’.

He told the Irish Independent: “I have a job here but as soon as my season is over, I will be back home, with my people. As soon as I can, I will go.

“I will fight. Everyone is going into the streets, we are united as a people.

“The world is asking how Ukrainians can protect their people.

“It’s because people will go in the streets and fight, everyone is united, we know what we have to do.

“Of course, we are not even thinking about football now, we are thinking about protecting our country.

“I am very proud of the people, the soldiers who are trying to save our country. We are on the right side, but we have to fight for our freedom.”

On his plans to help stave off Russia’s invasion, he added: “Of course I will take a gun in my hand.

“We will survive. We will win. I see no compromise as there is no compromise with [Vladimir] Putin, he only wants to go to Kviv and show he has occupied our country.

“He has no interest in compromise, we will fight for our people and stay to the end.

“We are now fighting for our country, we want to decide our fate, not have other people run our country or tell us what to do in the future.”

Rebrov’s former international team-mate and pal Oleg Luzhny has already returned to Ukraine to assist in any way he can. While boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk, and Vasiliy Lomachenko have all enlisted to help their country’s efforts.