Aston Villa's plans for their Premier League encounter with Everton have been disrupted by the late withdrawal of Jadon Sancho. The Manchester United loanee was a notable omission from the matchday squad announced ahead of the Saturday afternoon fixture at Villa Park.
Sancho Ruled Out Through Illness
The club confirmed that the 25-year-old winger was unavailable for selection due to illness. As of Saturday, 18th January 2026, it remains unclear how long the England international will be sidelined, casting doubt over his immediate availability for manager Unai Emery.
Sancho's absence is a blow, albeit one that comes during a mixed loan spell. Since his deadline-day move from Manchester United in September, he has struggled to cement a regular starting role. He has made 18 appearances across all competitions this season, with only 11 of those coming in the Premier League.
A Season of Limited Impact
Despite his pedigree, Sancho has found consistent game time hard to secure. He has been named in the starting lineup for just two league matches since his arrival. His most recent start came in Villa's last top-flight outing against Crystal Palace, a game where he was largely ineffective.
His standout moment in a Villa shirt to date was a positive cameo off the bench at Stamford Bridge, where he helped inspire a comeback victory against Chelsea. He also started the subsequent heavy 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, but failed to influence the game as the team collapsed in the second half.
Villa Chase History Amid Squad Changes
Sancho's illness comes as Villa aim for a historic 12th consecutive home victory against Everton. A win would also see them leapfrog rivals into second place in the Premier League table, following Manchester City's 2-0 win at Old Trafford the previous day.
In more positive team news, forward Evan Guessand has returned to the bench. The Ivorian had been absent for several weeks due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with the eventual champions.
All eyes will now be on how Emery's side adapts without one of their high-profile attacking options as they continue their push for a Champions League qualification spot.
