Aston Villa's Matteo Ruggeri
Aston Villa's Matteo Ruggeri(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)
Unai Emery has confirmed that Leon Goretzka will be in Aston Villa’s squad to face Fenerbahce, but Matteo Ruggeri is expected to be sidelined for more than a month.
The left-back was substituted at half-time in Villa’s 2-2 draw against Brentford last time out, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka coming on to replace him, as Ian Maatsen is also currently injured.
Emery did, however, provide a positive update on Maatsen, who could return to group training within the next week or two.
“Ruggeri, I don’t know exactly how long it will be, but some weeks he will be out. More than one month,” Emery said.
“We must try to find solutions as Maatsen is not available. I think he should be in a few days, one week or two weeks joining us.”
Goretzka could make his Villa debut on Wednesday night, having not yet featured for the club following his free transfer in August.
The German midfielder left Bayern Munich at the end of last season but suffered a knee injury shortly after beginning training at Bodymoor Heath with his new teammates.
Leon Goretzka has joined Aston Villa
Leon Goretzka has joined Aston Villa
News of Goretzka’s knee injury emerged on the eve of Villa’s first Champions League match against Club Brugge last month.
Villa won 3-2 in Belgium to make a perfect start to the league phase, in which they finished in the top eight two years ago.
After facing Fenerbahce on Wednesday, Villa will host Viking FK next week in matchday three.
Speaking about Villa’s form so far this season, Emery said: “We are realistic about how we are working and improving things. But it is not enough yet, so we are having lots of conversations with the team, in meetings and with videos, practicing too to show improvements in matches.
“At Villa Park, we have not won yet, so it is very important how we can improve things to be closer to winning. Tomorrow is a very good opportunity to do one step forward in those improvements and the players as well to get confidence and feel comfortable.
“Villa Park is for us something very, very special. It should be like the four years that we are here - how we achieved this as a special place, our fortress. Tomorrow is a new challenge to show it.”
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