Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed a fresh injury blow after captain John McGinn was forced off with a knee problem during Sunday's disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Everton.
McGinn forced off early at Villa Park
The Villa skipper lasted just 17 minutes of the Premier League clash at Villa Park before going down and clutching his knee. Although the incident initially appeared innocuous, it caused immediate concern among his teammates.
McGinn was able to walk from the pitch unaided, albeit gingerly, making his way around the perimeter and down the tunnel. His premature exit, however, forced a significant tactical reshuffle from the outset.
Emery's coy response to 'concerning' setback
Addressing the media in his post-match press conference, Emery was pressed on the severity of McGinn's issue. When first asked if the injury was concerning, the Villa boss offered a guarded response.
"Of course when some players are getting injured, it’s not good," Emery stated. "But it’s football and we have to accept it and then there are opportunities for other players to play."
Pressed for further details on the nature of the problem, Emery simply replied: "I don’t know, it’s his knee." The lack of immediate clarity will do little to ease fears among the Villa Park faithful.
Deepening midfield crisis for Villa
McGinn's injury compounds a growing crisis in the heart of Villa's team, particularly in midfield. The club is already without the services of Boubacar Kamara, who was substituted with a knee injury of his own during the FA Cup win at Tottenham Hotspur just over a week ago.
Emery initially hoped Kamara's issue was minor, but the French midfielder is still awaiting further scans to determine the full extent of the damage. "I think this week we will know something more," Emery admitted regarding Kamara.
The current situation leaves Villa desperately short of options. In the central double-pivot roles, only Youri Tielemans and Lamare Bogarde are considered fully available. Further forward, Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers are the sole senior number 10s match-fit.
A glimmer of hope in recovery news
It is not entirely bleak news for Emery, who offered a positive update on two other sidelined stars. He confirmed that both Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley are progressing in their recoveries and could be in contention within the next fortnight.
"Onana and Barkley they are coming back in one week or two weeks," Emery said. "We have enough players to get the performance we need."
Their returns will provide a welcome boost, but with a congested fixture schedule ahead—including demanding trips to face Fenerbahce in Europe and Newcastle United in the league—the injury to a key leader like McGinn could force Villa's hand in the transfer market sooner than planned.
