Unai Emery’s side will be aiming to maintain their winning start in Europe when they host the Turkish giants at Villa Park on Wednesday night
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, speaks to the media
Unai Emery's Aston Villa take on Fenerbahce(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa will be missing several players when they face Fenerbahce in the Champions League.
Unai Emery’s side will be aiming to maintain their winning start in Europe when they host the Turkish giants at Villa Park on Wednesday night (8pm), after beating Club Brugge in their opening league phase tie.
While summer signing Leon Goretzka could make his debut for the club after recovering from a knee injury, Emery will be without a host of players.
Matteo Ruggeri has been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in Villa’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday, while fellow left-back Ian Maatsen is still sidelined with an ankle problem.
Emery also confirmed George Hemmings will not be available to face Fenerbahce after missing the match against Brentford.
“There are negative ways for some players, because they are injured like Ruggeri,” said Emery at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“Ruggeri, we don’t know exactly how long it’s going to be, but it will be some weeks that he’s going to be out, more than one month. We need to find solutions because (Ian) Maatsen is not yet available.
“I think, the way he is, getting better, he should be joining us in a few days or a week, so it’s positive.
“Leon Goretzka is in the squad for tomorrow; George Hemmings is still being with a small pain – not (available) for tomorrow but maybe on Saturday he can come back.”
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“**(Modou Keba) Cisse** are starting to train with us and we have some players without the possibility to play in the Champions League, like Taylor (Harwood-Bellis) and (Brian) Madjo,” he added.
“Hopefully Madjo can join us in the group for Saturday. Some players are getting injured and some players are coming back, but our structure must be enough to play with our improvements and the expectation we have to improve.”
Midfielder Amadou Onana also continues to be sidelined as he recovers from a severe knee injury suffered playing for Belgium at the World Cup in the summer.
Fenerbahce have received a boost with midfielder Matteo Guendouzi cleared to play after a suspension.
But they are expected to be without Jayden Oosterwolde, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, and Mert Muldur, who has a knee problem.
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