"A Worrying time" - Life as a footballer in Ukraine after Russia's invasion

Kadeem Harris has opened up on what life is like as a footballer in war-torn Ukraine.

The London-born winger swapped Sheffield Wednesday for Metalist Kharkiv last summer.

It represented a shock switch for the 28-year-old and Harris also created a little bit of history as he became the first Englishman to play professional football in Ukraine.

And he has enjoyed a productive first campaign for Kharkiv, but the season has been paused after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine earlier this week.

Harris' family is still back in the UK but he is in constant communication with them, amid the ongoing worries.

Harris and his teammates are currently in Turkey for the club's winter break and were due to return to Ukraine this week prior to the season resuming.

Speaking to Wales Online, Harris admits to there being obvious nerves over the situation.

"For myself and my family it is definitely something to think about," Harris said. "No one wants their son or partner in the middle of a crisis or a war. They are worried.

"But I keep having to reassure them from my end.

"If anything was to happen, which hopefully it doesn't, there are measures in place for me and for other players where we will be on the first flight home or in safety.

"The main issue for me is that I don't want anything to happen anyway, regardless of if I'm safe or not. There are other people's lives at risk.

"I've not seen the British news but I can imagine it's a lot scarier to be watching over there.

"It seems like a lot more is happening than what is happening. Speaking to the boys here who have family there, it's just normal, everyday life.

"Nothing is going on in Kharkiv and they have stressed that if anything was to happen then Kharkiv would be the last to experience it.

"There would be Donetsk and a few other cities before then, so I have time to address the matter.

"They keep trying to reassure me and I keep trying to reassure my family. It is a bit of a worrying time."

Harris' decision to up sticks and move abroad was borne out of wanting a fresh challenge amid a lack of playing time.

Last season he suffered relegation with Sheffield Wednesday, bringing a sour end to his two-year stay in South Yorkshire.

Despite the way it finished at Hillsborough, both of Harris' seasons at Wednesday saw him make more than 30 appearances in a campaign - something he had only achieved once before in his career.

"In a nutshell, I was in England, I made my debut when I was 16 and I didn't play consistently for 12 years," he added.

"I played sporadically for 10 years in the Championship, I had a little stint in the Premier League as well. It was getting a bit repetitive.

"I wasn't at the point where I had always planned to be at this age, the Premier League, the very top. I wanted to try something new."