Unai Emery has delivered a significant update on the fitness of Aston Villa's influential midfielder Amadou Onana, confirming the Belgian international faces a spell on the sidelines.
Onana's Setback and Expected Absence
The 24-year-old was forced off at half-time during Villa's Premier League clash with Arsenal last week, missing the subsequent victory over Nottingham Forest. Although present to congratulate his teammates after that 3-1 win, Onana also sat out the recent 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
Emery now expects the midfielder to be unavailable for at least the club's next three fixtures. This period includes:
- The FA Cup encounter with Tottenham Hotspur.
- A Premier League match against Everton.
- The crucial Europa League tie with Fenerbahce.
Projected Return Timeline for Key Player
If his recovery progresses as hoped, Onana could make his comeback for Villa's trip to face Newcastle United. However, the manager indicated that a return during the home fixtures against RB Salzburg or Brentford, scheduled for the end of January and start of February respectively, may be a more realistic target.
This is not the first injury issue for Onana this season. He previously missed seven matches earlier in the campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury at Brentford, only returning against Burnley ahead of the October international break.
Impact on Villa and Other Squad News
Onana's absence is a blow for Emery's side, given his impressive impact since joining. The midfielder has started 11 league games this term and has found the net twice, scoring against both Bournemouth and Brighton.
In more positive news from the treatment room, Pau Torres returned to the squad for the Palace match, providing a timely boost. Furthermore, Tyrone Mings could be in contention for a return this Saturday after two months out with a hamstring issue.
Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Ross Barkley is also progressing and is due back within the same three-week timeframe as Onana, offering Emery more options as Villa compete on multiple fronts.
