Aston Villa take on Liverpool on Boxing Day and Unai Emery has provided the latest injury news and an update on the availability of Emiliano Martinez.
After registering back-to-back wins in his first two Premier League games in charge, Emery will be hoping his side can pick up from where they left off prior to the World Cup break.
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That said, it’s hoped that the opportunity to work closely with most of the squad over the past month has helped him settle and get his ideas across, and we’ll hopefully continue to see improvements moving forward.
The visit of Liverpool will certainly be a difficult test first up, and Villa will be without Martinez after his World Cup heroics helped Argentina triumph in Qatar just a week ago, as Emery confirmed that the 30-year-old will be back next week after being given time to rest.
Emery on Emi Martinez
“We are so proud of him, he won the World Cup with his national team and it’s amazing,” said Emery at Friday’s pre-match press conference, as per the club’s site. “I think fans of Aston Villa must be very proud of him and he is coming back next week.
“But I want him to rest now because after the big emotion, after the hard work he did, he has to have some days off to rest.
“Next week he is coming back to start with us.”
Olsen set to step in but has small injury concern
With Martinez ruled out, Robin Olsen will be next in line to start, but the Villa boss revealed that the Swede has a small injury issue which he’ll have to come through training with tomorrow to secure his place in the starting XI.
Should Olsen be absent too, Villa will have to look to our younger options with the likes of Oliwier Zych or Filip Marschall potentially being called into action.