Unai Emery has delivered positive injury updates for Aston Villa ahead of their crucial Premier League encounter with Bournemouth this weekend, confirming the availability of two key players.
Watkins Returns to Full Fitness
The Villa manager revealed that star striker Ollie Watkins has recovered from a minor hamstring issue and will be ready for selection against the Cherries. Watkins missed last weekend's disappointing 1-0 defeat at Brentford after sustaining the injury during the first half against RB Salzburg.
"Yes, he is available," Emery confirmed when asked about Watkins' status. "He rested last week because he had a small injury and he wasn't ready to play. He has trained normally and today trained normally too."
January signing Tammy Abraham deputised in Watkins' absence against Brentford, making his second debut for the club, though he was denied a goal on his return to action.
Onana Also Cleared to Feature
In further good news for Villa supporters, midfielder Amadou Onana has also been declared fit despite missing the Brentford match due to muscle fatigue. The Belgian international didn't feature from the bench in that encounter but has recovered sufficiently to be included in the squad travelling to the south coast.
Emery's update provides a significant boost to Villa's midfield options as they seek to bounce back from their recent setback and maintain their push for European qualification.
Alysson Remains Sidelined
Not all the injury news was positive, however, with defender Alysson confirmed as unavailable for the Bournemouth trip despite returning to training following his own fitness concerns. The Brazilian will not travel with the squad as he continues his rehabilitation process.
Historical Context and Opposition Form
Aston Villa will be looking to complete a league double over Bournemouth for the first time in their history, having secured a comprehensive 4-0 victory at Villa Park back in November. That dominant performance showcased Villa's attacking prowess and defensive solidity against Andoni Iraola's side.
However, Bournemouth present a significantly different challenge this time around, having rediscovered their form with three victories from their last four Premier League matches. This represents a marked improvement from their previous run of eleven games without a win.
Perhaps more concerning for Villa is Bournemouth's impressive record against top-three sides this season. The Cherries have secured five victories from their last seven league encounters against teams starting the day in the Premier League's top three positions, demonstrating their capability to raise their game against elite opposition.
This combination of factors sets the stage for a compelling encounter at the Vitality Stadium, with Villa's returning stars hoping to make an immediate impact against a Bournemouth side growing in confidence with each passing week.
