Unai Emery’s Aston Villa prepares for a Europa League clash against Maccabi Tel Aviv while navigating key injury concerns for Youri Tielemans and Tyrone Mings, with Emi Buendia and Andres Garcia also on the mend.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery faces significant selection challenges as his side prepares to host Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with defensive stalwart Tyrone Mings suffering a fresh injury setback.
The club is looking to respond after a shock defeat in the previous European matchday against Go Ahead Eagles.
The primary concern is defender Tyrone Mings, who sustained a hamstring injury during the recent Premier League loss to Liverpool, forcing him off the pitch late in the game. His absence is expected to be lengthy, as confirmed by Emery, who stated:
“It is a hamstring injury. Normally, some weeks he will be out with an injury like that. Tomorrow we will test him and know exactly how many matches he will miss.”
The injury list is compounded by the continued absence of Youri Tielemans, last season’s Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season, who has been sidelined with a calf problem since the goalless draw with Everton.
While the Belgian star is progressing, he remains a doubt for the midweek European fixture. Emery provided a hopeful update on Tielemans last Friday:
“Youri is progressing well. He is going to start training, hopefully next week, with the group.” This suggests a return against Bournemouth at the weekend is more probable.
In a slight positive, central midfielder Emi Buendia, who has four Premier League goal contributions this season, is pushing to return from an ankle injury in time for the weekend fixture against Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, young right-back Andres Garcia, who has been battling a muscle injury since April, is targeting a comeback in December to strengthen Emery’s defensive options.
The ongoing injury issues will test Villa’s depth as they continue to juggle domestic and European commitments.