Three Aston Villa Players Return to Matchday Squad
After loaning out some of the squad deadwood in the January transfer window, the Aston Villa bench has looked decidedly threadbare in recent games, for a team supposedly chasing European qualification. While not yet quite reaching the levels of the Paul Lambert era, the fact it has featured two young goalkeepers with zero league experience has risen some concerns.
In the pre-match press conference for the Arsenal game though, Unai Emery announced that three players, who missed the Etihad trip last weekend, would be joining the squad for the visit of the Gunners.
Bertrand Traore is set to make his first appearance in a Villa match day squad since Steven Gerrard exiled the club’s wingers to Turkey.
Since returning from Istanbul Basaksehir FK, Traore has been nursing an injury, but has been back in training for the past fortnight.
“Bertrand Traoré is getting better, he trained last week, this week as well, and he is in the squad,” confirmed Emery.
He also added that despite still having a ‘small problem’ Robin Olsen will also return to the Villa bench too.
The biggest news was obviously the potential return of Tyrone Mings, who after missing the Manchester City game, returned to training for the past couple of days.
“He (Tyrone) is in the squad,” said the Villa Head Coach. “He trained today and yesterday but we are going to decide tomorrow morning before the match.
“The last moments are going to be very important about the decision if he can start or not.”
Mings also signed a new contract today, so will be keen to start in a game against the former Premier League leaders, which he will be needed in, if Villa are to prevent a run of three consecutive defeats.
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Carlos Update
Meanwhile, Emery gave a further update on centre-back Diego Carlos, who returned to training with his teammates this week.
“Diego Carlos, we are so happy, because he has started training with us, yesterday and today,” said Emery.
“But, of course, he will need time to be fit and to be confident to play.”
UTV
