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Mircea Lucescu unsure when Shakhtar Donetsk will move back 'home'

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Lucescu: Shakhtar miss home support (2:26)

Shakhtar head coach Mircea Lucescu admits his side miss their large home support after having to relocate following the political unrest in eastern Ukraine. (2:26)

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu says the club are desperate to "come back home" after being relocated to Lviv as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, although he is unsure as to when that will happen.

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Shakhtar were forced to move away from the Donbass Arena in their native Donetsk in July due to the clashes between government forces and pro-Russian rebels that have been taking place in the country.

The Ukrainian champions have set up their training base in Kiev, while they now play home games at the Arena Lviv -- around 620 miles away from Donetsk in the west of the country.

"I still don't know when we will have a chance to come back home to Donetsk," Lucescu is quoted as saying by AFP. "We all want to play at Donbass Arena, to feel our fans' passionate support. But we have to play at Lviv as our president said it's still too dangerous to return."

Shakhtar may not be able to return to Donetsk any time soon as their training base in the south of the city has been damaged by shelling, while the Donbass Arena has also been affected by the conflict.

"Of course, we all want to live in peace and harmony," Shakhtar defender Ivan Ordets added. "We feel comfortable in Kiev but Donetsk is in our hearts forever. We all want to come back home."

Shakhtar supporters living in Donetsk were left frustrated by their club's relocation to Lviv and are also hoping for a swift return.

"It's too far and too expensive for me to drive to Lviv to watch Shakhtar," one fan said. "I watched some of their matches this season when they've played in Kiev but it's not the same as watching them at home. I just can't wait to see Shakhtar at the Donbass Arena again. We love them and we need them here."

Shakhtar have been watched by average crowds of around 10,000 at the 35,000-seater Arena Lviv, although the club insist Tuesday's Champions League clash against Porto is sold out.