Aston Villa Manager Confirms Midfield Injury Timelines and Transfer Boost
Unai Emery has delivered significant updates regarding Aston Villa's mounting midfield injury concerns, providing clear return timelines for key players while confirming a familiar face will bolster the squad.
Injury Blow: McGinn and Tielemans Sidelined for Weeks
The Villa manager revealed that captain John McGinn faces six to eight weeks out of action due to a knee injury, while Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans is expected to be absent for eight to ten weeks following an ankle problem sustained during Sunday's match against Newcastle United.
These setbacks compound existing issues in Villa's midfield department, with Boubacar Kamara already ruled out for the remainder of the season with his own knee injury. Emery acknowledged the challenging situation ahead of Villa's Europa League tie against RB Salzburg, stating the club must carefully manage their remaining central midfield options during this critical period.
Douglas Luiz Returns to Ease Midfield Crisis
In response to these injury concerns, Emery has all but confirmed the return of Douglas Luiz to Aston Villa. The Brazilian midfielder, who previously spent four seasons at Villa Park before departing in 2022, is expected to provide much-needed reinforcement for the remainder of the campaign.
"We are involving Douglas Luiz for this season," Emery explained. "Hopefully, we can keep him consistently this season."
Additional Squad Developments
The Villa boss also provided updates on other potential midfield reinforcements, revealing that Ross Barkley is "so close to joining us again" while highlighting young talent George Hemmings as a player with "huge potential" who might contribute during this challenging period.
Emery praised Hemmings' tactical understanding and suggested this could represent an opportunity for the promising youngster to make his mark at first-team level as Villa navigate their injury crisis across multiple competitions.
These developments come at a crucial juncture in Villa's season as they compete on both domestic and European fronts, with Emery needing to carefully rotate his depleted midfield resources while maintaining competitive performance levels.
