Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed that Tyrone Mings has picked up a ‘small injury’, and that is behind his absence against Man City on Sunday.
There was concern after Villa’s starting line-up was confirmed ahead of kick-off at the Etihad, with Mings not included in the squad at all as Calum Chambers steps in to replace him.
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Naturally, the obvious reasoning was that it was down to an injury, and Emery has confirmed that is indeed the case in his pre-match interview with Sky Sports.
“He has a small injury,” the Villa boss conceded. “He tried to be here but he’s not ready for this match. He’s resting, and hopefully the next week he could come back.”
Villa host Arsenal next Saturday in the early kick-off, and so it’s hoped that the injury isn’t anything serious and Mings can return in time for that.
Meanwhile, Emery was also questioned on Chambers’ inclusion given his lack of involvement for the most part so far this season, as the Villa centre-half will certainly have his hands full up against Erling Harland and the City attack.
However, the Spaniard was confident in the 28-year-old’s ability to deputise, but it will no doubt need an organised and disciplined defensive display from Villa as a whole to limit City’s threat, and in turn put ourselves in a position to go on and get something from the match.
“He’s training every day with a very good spirit and he knows how we want to play,” Emery added. “He has experience. It’s not a match thinking he’s not ready to play, we think, and believe, in him.”