As we enter a crucial period of the season, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery confirmed a vital boost for us this week as Boubacar Kamara edges closer to a return.
The 23-year-old has missed our last two Premier League games after sustaining an injury in our win over Crystal Palace last month, and although the void has been filled admirably, his presence in the side has still been missed.
READ MORE: Emery praises key Villa duo who continue to improve under him
John McGinn deserves praise for the job he has done since shifting back inside more centrally to partner Douglas Luiz, but Kamara’s defensive strengths and technical quality in midfield have seen him emerge as a stand-out player for us this season, and his return will no doubt be welcomed by all.
Speaking this week ahead of our clash with Chelsea on Saturday, Emery confirmed that the French international has stepped up his recovery and he has a chance to be included in the squad that travels to Stamford Bridge.
“Kamara, this week, was training with us,” Emery confirmed, as per VillaTV. “If tomorrow he is ready, he is training normal, I think we can use him in the squad for the match on Saturday.”
Whether he features or not, it’s a major boost in itself that Kamara is on the verge of being available again, as it was feared that he could be set for a lengthier spell on the sidelines as early reports suggested that he could miss several more games.
However, he’s recovered quickly and has worked hard on his rehabilitation to get back to this point, and being able to bring him back perhaps against Leicester City on Tuesday night, would be a huge boost for us not only in terms of what he brings to the Villa XI, but also the impact that has on others in a hectic upcoming schedule.
From his partnership with Luiz in the heart of the side that has looked so influential in our overall performances and subsequent results to give us that sense of control that Emery has long demanded, to allowing McGinn to move back to the right side of midfield where he was starting to find some really good form and a consistent attacking threat.
Additionally, with Alex Moreno continuing to burst forward down the left flank, having that steady and reliable presence from Kamara to step across and provide defensive cover when needed is also a fundamental aspect of the job he does.
It will be an important boost at a critical time in the campaign, given we know a win this weekend would move us into the top half of the Premier League at long last, while also continuing to build confidence and belief in our ability to climb the standings further and really compete for a European qualification spot.
It wasn’t all good news over the international break given the setback suffered by Matty Cash, but if we can restore Kamara to the starting line-up in the upcoming week, it will provide a real lift for all those around him as well as for Emery.
