Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s manager, has brought really excellent news on the injury front ahead of our match against Everton on Sunday.
Villa head to Goodison Park to play the Toffees in the Premier League, seeking to secure our top-four status and hold off the pursuing pack to ensure we maintain our excellent form in the second half of the season.
To have the best opportunity of doing so, we need as close to a fully-fit team as possible in order to provide Emery with the depth and variety of dynamics he needs to put together a successful game plan week after week.
While we’ve struggled with injury setbacks this season, Emery announced that both Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans returned to group training this week and are expected to play this weekend.
Meanwhile, he said that, while Lucas Digne is out for this game due to a hamstring injury, he hopes to return at the end of the month, following our forthcoming break.
“Robin Olsen is back; he trained with us yesterday and today.” According to VillaTV, Emery assured the reporters that if all goes well tomorrow, he will be ready. “Pau Torres is with us, training alongside the group.
“Youri Tielemans began training with us this week as well, and he is gradually improving. If everything goes well tomorrow, they may both be named to the squad and given the opportunity to play.
“But, of course, we will strive to analyze each individual’s progress after being injured and make the best option for them.
“Lucas Digne is not available on Sunday, and Bertrand Traoré is with his national squad. I’m not sure when Digne will return; we don’t play next week, but two weeks later.
“Maybe yes, but we have to be patient with his comeback.”
While Tielemans has not played since our 1-0 victory against Arsenal in early December, Torres has been in and out of the squad in recent weeks as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Given how important the pair have been for us this season, particularly Torres, who has been fundamental at the back in both phases of the game, but also Tielemans, who grew into his role and was looking like a key cog in the Villa side prior to his injury, it will be a huge relief to have them back and pushing to get back into the Villa XI.
We’ve certainly missed their presence, experience, and leadership, and it’s hoped that even if they aren’t quite ready to start this weekend, they can at least get on the field at some point to log valuable minutes, build up their match fitness, and reintegrate into the side to start playing an important role in our form moving forward.
With Villa anticipated to have a quiet January transfer window, it will be critical that we have everyone back from injury for the remainder of the season, with the exception of long-term absentees Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, as we have enough skill and depth to maintain our progress thus far.
