Artyom Dzyuba, the forward for Moscow Lokomotiv, took the field as captain for the first time in a Russian Premier League match. The veteran striker, who joined the red-greens at the start of February, accepted the armband in the 20th minute of the away clash with Akhmat Grozny after defender Stanislav Makgeev was sent off. The moment was a standout for Dzyuba, who arrived in Moscow ready to lead from the frontline as Lokomotiv pursued a strong league campaign. (Cited: Reuters)
By halftime, Lokomotiv held a 1-0 advantage. Midfielder Sergei Pinyaev opened the scoring in the 11th minute, marking his first goal for the club since moving from Krylia Sovetov to Lokomotiv in the winter transfer window. The 2023–2024 season moves had seen Dzyuba’s career traverse several stops before landing in Moscow, and his leadership on the pitch appeared to align with Lokomotiv’s evolving tactical approach. (Cited: Reuters)
Entering this season, Dzyuba spent time with Adana Demirspor in Turkey before a contract termination cut the spell short. Upon returning to his home country as a free agent, he weighed multiple offers from Russian Premier League clubs. Media speculation linked him with potential moves to Torpedo Moscow or FC Nizhny Novgorod, but he ultimately signed with Lokomotiv Moscow, a decision described as a key piece in the club’s strategy to bolster attack and leadership in the squad. (Cited: Reuters)
Former football commentator Gennady Orlov offered his assessment of Dzyuba’s prospects for a national team call-up, weighing the striker’s form, fitness, and the coaching staff’s latest considerations. Orlov noted that while national team selections depend on a range of factors, Dzyuba’s experience and goal-scoring history kept him in the conversation for observers and fans alike. (Cited: Reuters)
On March 6, the national team’s technical committee released an expanded roster for a pre-season training camp scheduled for March 19–28. The term rail-focused attacker referenced in some reports did not appear on this list, highlighting the evolving considerations that national team selectors balance when building a squad for forthcoming competitions. (Cited: Reuters)