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Unai Emery provides an extensive injury update before Aston Villa vs Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Aston Villa will welcome back Emiliano Martinez, Marco Asensio and Amadou Onana to the matchday squad against Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
Unai Emery has confirmed a triple team news boost for Villa as they seek to hold onto their 3-1 aggregate advantage in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.
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It may not have been deserved following an underwhelming performance but Villa saw off Brugge in Belgium to bring a two-goal lead back home to Villa Park. Anything can happen - especially in this competition - but the hosts will be confident they can hold on to earn a spot in the quarter-finals.
Martinez coming back in is the most welcome relief despite Robin Olsen’s impressive performance and clean sheet away at Brentford on the weekend as Villa’s backup goalkeeper has been inconsistent when called upon. Martinez, on the other hand, is a two-time Yashin Trophy winner and will be determined to keep his fifth clean sheet in this season’s competition.
Marco Asensio, Emiliano Martinez and Amadou Onana will all be in the Aston Villa squad to play Club BruggeMarco Asensio, Emiliano Martinez and Amadou Onana will all be in the Aston Villa squad to play Club Brugge
Marco Asensio, Emiliano Martinez and Amadou Onana will all be in the Aston Villa squad to play Club Brugge | Getty Images
Onana is unlikely to start but provides Emery a welcome lift as the Belgian international can rotate in for Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn if they get leggy in the second half. Asensio, meanwhile, scored the third goal in Brugge last week and has already netted five times in seven appearances for Villa since signing on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
When asked in the pre-match press conference if Martinez and Asensio are ready to play, Emery said: “They are in the squad. Onana as well is in the squad. (Ross) Barkley is not. (Donyell) Malen and Andres (Garcia) are not. Other players will be in the squad.”
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Importance of Asensio’s experience
As a three-time winner of the competition with Real Madrid, Asensio boasts the most impressive medal collection of anybody in the Villa squad. The 29-year-old’s arrival from PSG was one of the stories of the recent transfer window as Emery finally secured a target he’s had ever since joining the club.
Not only does Asensio offer immense quality in the attacking midfield role but his experience at this level will prove to be of great benefit to his teammates. The likes of Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey are experiencing their first taste of Champions League football and can learn so much from a player of Asensio’s pedigree.
“I think the experience the players have is important but they have to use their experiences again doing something,” Emery said of Asensio.
“The matches he played he’s showing us his adaptation is going very well, he’s adding us his qualities, his mentality, his wishes, his choice to be here with us and tomorrow is the next challenge we have for him and he has as well with us.”
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Whether it be from the start or off the bench, Emery will be hoping Asensio can make his impact felt under the lights at Villa Park on Wednesday, just as he did recently against Chelsea, Cardiff City and in the first leg at Brugge.
With the anticipation building, read on for BirminghamWorld’s predicted lineup.