Aston Villa face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, and Unai Emery has provided our latest team news ahead of the encounter.
Villa will look to continue our exceptional recent form having registered nine consecutive wins across all competitions, six of which have come in the league as we’ve established ourselves in third place in the standings.
Given our historical record against this weekend’s opponents, that may not matter much as we look to inflict defeat on Ruben Amorim’s side, and so it’s hoped that we’re able to sustain our current momentum and form.
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Having benefitted from a week’s rest after a gruelling schedule and with a busy fixture list coming up again soon, it had been hoped that we would be as close to a fully-fit squad as possible, but unfortunately we will be missing key individuals again on Sunday.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Emery confirmed that Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley and Harvey Elliott are all sidelined, while Jadon Sancho will no play no part given he’s ineligible to face his parent club.
There was better news on Emiliano Martinez who has been struggling with a back issue in recent weeks, and the Argentine shot-stopper will hopefully be able to return to the starting line-up this weekend.
“Emiliano is progressing well, he is training individually and feeling better, much better,” he said, as per VillaTV. “Tomorrow we will decide if he is available or not for Sunday.
“Tyrone Mings is still injured, he’s getting better, maybe in a few weeks he’s again joining us. Pau Torres, more or less, the same; one week or two weeks, something like that.
“Ross Barkley is still injured, longer than those two players. Elliott is sick today, he hasn’t trained today or yesterday as well.
“And another player, normally, if everything’s going well, tomorrow he’ll be training and will be available for Sunday.”
Following on from his press conference, it has also now been confirmed that Evann Guessand has been called up by Ivory Coast for AFCON, and so we’re certainly short of numbers heading into clashes with Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal before the end of the year.
Nevertheless, such is the resilience, confidence and momentum in the group currently, it’s hoped that we can overcome those setbacks and absences and secure all three points this weekend to keep setting an impressive pace in the battle for Champions League qualification, while also sticking with Arsenal and Manchester City for as long as possible to mount an improbable title charge.