Livingston boss hopeful Russian keeper doesn't receive negative response as he prepares for debut

Livingston boss David Martindale says he hopes Ivan Konovalov doesn’t receive any negative backlash from Scottish football fans with the keeper set to become the first Russian to play in the UK since the invasion of Ukraine.

The 27-year-old is expected to make his Lions debut in place of the suspended Max Stryjek this afternoon when they host Hibernian.

The former Rubin Kazan stopper signed for Livi in January but a lengthy work permit process meant he didn’t arrive in Scotland until just a few days before the military action in Ukraine started.

But Martindale is confident fans will separate the individual and the actions of Vladimir Putin’s government in Russia and confessed he’d have no problem dipping into the Russian - or Ukrainian - market.

He said: “We all talk about diversity and inclusion and this has got to come into it. It’s not as if it’s the Russian people who have chosen this war.

“I can’t speak for Ivan but a lot of Russian people, from what I gather, don’t agree with what’s going on. He’s a really good guy who has spent a lot of time away from his family.

“There’s not been a lot of flights to Russia so when we’ve had that downtime he’s not been able to get back to see his wife and daughter. The flights are astronomical and he can’t afford to go back home but that’s him now applied for a visa for them to come over here and he’s moved into his own apartment now.”

He added: “I’ve tried to dip into the Ukrainian market because players are available.

“First and foremost, they need to be able to play for Livingston, ability-wise. But is it something you’d like to help out with? Of course.

“We’ve explored the Russian market as well and that’s one I want to be active in, but I don’t know how that process would