Boss was speaking ahead of another key fixture in Villa’s season.
Villa will assess Jadon Sancho ahead of Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest as the winger continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
The Manchester United loanee missed Thursday’s Europa League win in Bologna with the injury, sustained while playing in a friendly match during the international break.
But boss Unai Emery says the 26-year-old is progressing well and has refused to yet rule him out of the match at the City Ground, where Villa will resume their push for a top-five Premier League finish.
“He’s improving and getting better, Sancho,” said Emery on Friday.
“We will see how he is tomorrow because his was an injury for a few days or one, two or three weeks, but now it’s the second week, just starting the second week with his injury.”
Emery promised to be “intelligent” in utilising his squad, with a tight turnaround between matches.
Villa, who returned to the UK from Italy in the early hours of Friday morning, will train again on Saturday afternoon.
Emery must decide whether to keep Youri Tielemans in the starting line-up after the Belgium international completed 90 minutes for the first time since returning from an ankle injury.
Villa enter the weekend sat fourth in the table, with seven matches to play.
Emery said: “When he (Tielemans) is available he is performing like he did last year. So, so consistent and intelligent.
“On the field, he is a leader and team-mates feel confidence playing with him.
“He is getting his responsibility strongly. Playing 90 minutes he showed us again his leadership and importance.
“Of course, we must be intelligent and manage different matches.
“It is not an excuse, playing Thursday and Sunday at 2pm. But we must be alert about how these players, like him, feel for Sunday.”
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