Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is on top form for Euro 2012 despite an eight-month injury layoff, Zenit St. Petersburg goalkeeper Dmitry Borodin told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
The CSKA Moscow captain returned in April after being out of action with a cruciate ligament injury he sustained in a challenge with Spartak Moscow striker Welliton in August.
"Igor is now even better than before the injury. In everything I've seen, the last few games, he's demonstrating tremendous form," Borodin said.
Borodin is usually the understudy at Zenit to Vyacheslav Malafeev, who played for Russia during Akinfeev's injury layoff.
"Slava played perfectly, still keeping a clean sheet," Borodin said, but conceded Malafeev could not challenge Akinfeev for the No. 1 shirt.
"It might be not patriotic towards my city, but at the moment Akinfeev has the form you need to become Russia's first-choice keeper."
Akinfeev was the youngest-ever Russia international when he made his debut at 18 in 2004 and has been Russia’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2005, winning 50 caps for his country.
He has played 326 matches for CSKA, winning three Russian league titles, five Russian Cups and the 2005 UEFA Cup.
33 year-old Malafeev has 23 caps for Russia since 2003, when he made his debut in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Wales.
Russia will face the Czech Republic, joint hosts Poland, and Greece in the group stage of the tournament, which will take place in Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1.
