Matty Cash Faces Late Fitness Test Ahead of Villa’s Old Trafford Trip
Aston Villa will make a late call on Matty Cash before Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford, with manager Unai Emery confirming the right-back is in contention after missing the 1-0 Europa League victory at Lille.
Cash was forced off at half-time during the defeat against Chelsea earlier this month with a calf problem and sat out Thursday’s win in France. But Emery struck a cautiously optimistic tone at Friday’s pre-match press conference.
“Matty Cash is progressing well, and tomorrow we’ll see if he can be with us on Sunday or not,” the Villa head coach said.
The McGinn Effect
The most significant selection news, however, centres on John McGinn. The captain made his return from injury as a second-half substitute at Lille, and his immediate impact, lifting the away fans’ atmosphere and imposing himself physically within seconds of coming on. It served as a timely reminder of what Villa have been missing. Emery was unambiguous about the boost his skipper’s return represents. “Good news that John McGinn is back,” he said.
The midfield picture remains incomplete, though. Boubacar Kamara stays sidelined, while Youri Tielemans continues his recovery.
“Tielemans is progressing well but there’s still time to work individually to join us,” Emery added.
The significance of that particular trio’s availability is stark. In the six Premier League games this season where none of Kamara, McGinn or Tielemans have started, Villa have won just once, averaging 0.8 points per game. In the ten matches where all three have started, they have won seven, averaging 2.3 points per game.
McGinn’s return alone won’t solve everything. But it is a start.
Other Returns
Two further returns bolster Emery’s options, with Ross Barkley and Alysson both unavailable for the Lille tie but will return for the trip to Manchester. “Ross Barkley and Alysson are not in the squad list for Europe but will come back for Sunday,” Emery confirmed.
Villa arrive at Old Trafford with genuine historical motivation. Victory on Sunday would make them the first side to complete a league double over Manchester United since 1954-55, following their 2-1 win at Villa Park in December.
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