Former coach of the Russian national team, Boris Ignatiev, believes Lokomotiv striker Artem Dziuba should be called to the national team camp to help renew the record for most goals scored by a Russian player. The statement was shared by a legal betting outlet.
Ignatiev questioned whether it is worthwhile to invite Dziuba specifically for his goalscoring prowess. He suggested that having a player like Dziuba, who consistently finds the net, would send a strong message about the team’s strength. In his view, shortlisting Dziuba would be a natural move to demonstrate the national team’s options in attack.
At present, Dziuba has 30 goals for Russia, level with Alexander Kerzhakov for the all-time top scorer tally. If he scores once more, Dziuba would move ahead of the current leaders and stand alone at the top of the national team scoring chart.
Dziuba’s first official appearance for Lokomotiv came in a Russian Cup match against Spartak, where he played the full 90 minutes without scoring. He was nevertheless chosen as the standout player of the match, helping his side secure a 1-0 victory. The return leg is scheduled for February 27.
On February 8, the striker agreed to a contract with Lokomotiv through the end of the season. Dziuba began the 2022/23 campaign with the Turkish club Adana Demirspor, but parted ways after a brief stint and subsequently explored options as a free agent.
Valery Ovchinnikov, the former Lokomotiv coach from Nizhny Novgorod, shared his assessment that Dziuba still has a tangible chance to rejoin the Russian national squad in the future. The veteran coach noted that Dziuba can contribute at the international level if he maintains form and stays prepared for selection.