Villa’s Injury Crisis Intensifies as McGinn Faces Extended Layoff

Injury Setbacks for Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s injury challenges have escalated, as team captain John McGinn is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

The midfielder has opted out of traveling to Turkey for the Europa League match against Fenerbahce, and he is not alone in facing injury woes—goalkeeper Emi Martinez and midfielder Boubacar Kamara are also unavailable.

Key Player Updates

• Boubacar Kamara: Reports indicate that the vital midfielder may be out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained during a match against Tottenham last week. The club has yet to issue an official statement regarding his status.

• John McGinn: The 31-year-old McGinn exited early during the team’s recent loss to Everton with a knee issue, and manager Unai Emery is still awaiting further medical evaluations to determine the severity of his condition. Emery commented, “We are still waiting because he is still visiting some doctors to have a decision on what to do. It could be for some weeks or it could be less; it depends on the doctor and how he’s feeling.”

Other Injury Concerns

• Emi Martinez: The goalkeeper is coping with a calf injury.
• Alysson: The new winger has been ruled out due to a knee issue.
• Ross Barkley: Has remained in Birmingham.
• Amadou Onana: Set to return after a hamstring injury sidelined him for the last four matches.

Villa’s squad arrived in Turkey on Wednesday, with the football operations president, Roberto Olabe, heading out earlier on Monday to scout potential transfer target Tammy Abraham, who is currently playing for Besiktas.

Transfer News and Speculations

Tammy Abraham, who previously played for Villa on loan in the 2018-19 season and was pivotal in earning the club promotion to the Premier League, recently participated in a match where Besiktas secured a 1-0 victory over Kayserispor. Currently on loan from Roma, Besiktas has exercised their option to buy the forward, complicating efforts from Villa to negotiate a return, even as other Premier League clubs express interest.

Reports from Turkey suggest that Besiktas requires Villa to comply with their terms for the striker, who has netted 12 goals in 24 outings since his arrival.

Meanwhile, Leon Bailey has made his way back to Aston Villa after both clubs reached an agreement to terminate his loan to Roma. The absence of a recall clause meant that despite Roma having the option to buy, returning was deemed beneficial for all involved, especially given Bailey’s limited playtime due to injuries.

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