Aston Villa Injury Update Ahead of Spurs
It could be a case of too little too late for Aston Villa, but in his pre-match press conference for this weekend’s Villa Park clash against Spurs, Unai Emery announced that his squad finally had a clean bill of health (Jed Steer aside).
“It’s the first time in the last month we have everybody ready to be in the squad for Saturday,” confirmed Emery, before detailing that some of the returnees still lack full match fitness to start.
“Only Jed Steer is out, but Cash, Kamara, Bailey, Coutinho – in the last match they were in the squad but not ready 100% to play,” continued the Villa boss.
“Some players are still not ready to play 90 minutes, but they’re ready to be in the squad and ready to play.”
Having options against Spurs will be vital in a match that actually is a must-win if Villa are to retain any interest in the possibility of playing European football next season.
“We have to be positive,” said Emery, on the game. “We have to be happy and we have to very, very focused because it could be the last opportunity (to qualify for Europe) or it could be a very good opportunity to continue enjoying and playing key matches.”
After Villa’s impressive away record under Emery became unstuck in recent weeks by failing to win any of their last three games on their travels, the Villa Head Coach will hope to lean on the team’s vastly improved home form. They have won their last five matches at Villa Park without conceding a single goal.
“We started with some doubts at home before the last five matches that we won,” reflected Emery.
“Now, it’s very different because at home we are feeling very strong, we are being very competitive, we are winning difficult matches and playing very well.”
To silence the likes of Harry Kane and Villa nemesis Son Heung-min, and make some inroads in terms of flipping their goal difference compared to Spurs, Villa will no doubt be eyeing a similar Villa Park performance to the one they recently gave against Newcastle United.
If Villa can indeed make it six consecutive home wins, then the trip to Anfield suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.
UTV
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