Aston Villa could be handed a double injury boost as we prepare to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
After battling to secure a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in midweek, it’s hoped that we can take confidence and momentum into this weekend to secure three crucial points in the race to secure a top-five finish.
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Given the quality that they possess in their squad, Chelsea will pose a real threat at Villa Park, and so Unai Emery will know that his side must produce a top performance if we are to have a chance of getting the desired outcome.
It would certainly help if the Villa boss had key individuals back at his disposal after being sidelined by injury, and there could be a double boost ahead of this encounter with both Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey in contention.
“We are going to train this evening because we played on Wednesday, yesterday we trained in the morning,” he told reporters at his pre-match press conference, as per VillaTV. “He [Konsa] did compensation work with the players. Today, I will test him as well. In case he is feeling good, he will be in squad.
“To play or not, I will decide. I don’t know today evening or tomorrow morning.”
On Bailey, he added: “Leon trained yesterday and, the same like Konsa, I think in case he’s training today normally, he will be available to be in the squad and the possibility to play tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Emery provided updates on a string of other key players during the press conference, with Ross Barkley expected to return to full training next week, while Pau Torres, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara are tipped to return in the next two to three weeks.
While those will be timely boosts for the run-in and the return of our Champions League campaign, it’s hoped that Villa have enough in the weeks ahead to continue to be competitive and keep our hopes of achieving our objectives in the Premier League and FA Cup alive.
It would undoubtedly be a major boost to have Konsa back available this weekend though with loanee Axel Disasi ineligible to feature against his parent club, but if he’s only fit enough for the bench, that could see Lamare Bogarde start alongside Tyrone Mings, in what will be a huge test for him.
Nevertheless, having welcomed back the likes of Matty Cash, Mings and Ollie Watkins from injury over the past week or so, we’re continuing to move in the right direction when it comes to having a full squad available again, and hopefully we can avoid any further setbacks, while those still recovering remain on course with their touted timelines.
