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Aston Villa could be without a key player for the upcoming Premier League clash with Brentford.
The clinical Blues defeated Villa 3-0 with goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, strengthening their grip on a top four spot. Villa will still be hoping to challenge for a Champions League spot this season while putting together a significant run in this season’s edition of the competition.
But they find themselves four points off the pace - at time of writing with the Liverpool and Manchester City clash ongoing - as they prepare for fixtures with Brentford, Southampton and then Nottingham Forest, which comes after a Champions League outing.
While Brentford are in fine form, currently above Villa, all three games are games Unai Emery’s men know they need to be taking care of if they have genuine top four ambitions this season.
But the West Midlands club will not be helped by the potential absence of goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who is a key character in the Villa starting XI. Martinez picked up an injury against Chelsea and had to be replaced by Robin Olsen. Speaking after the game, Emery confirmed the concern, saying: “I don’t know now what exactly is his injury. It’s in his hand but we have to check him.”
While the severity of Martinez’s injury is unclear, he now faces a quick turnaround to be fit in time to face Brentford at Villa Park on Wednesday night. If he is not fit, Olsen will likely deputise between the sticks.
Villa already have Jacob Ramsey out currently, while Amadou Onana still hasn’t returned from his ankle injury. Brentford are currently three unbeaten, beating Bournemouth and Leicester City, drawing with Everton between those two fixtures.
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