Unai Emery’s fears during the international break will have come to the surface as Aston Villa are enduring an injury crisis.
Matty Cash and Ross Barkley were already recovering from their respective injuries and were expected to return for the clash against Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey were injured in the 2-0 loss to Liverpool, with Unai Emery praying that both players are available for their next match.
What has followed since at Aston Villa has been nothing short of remarkable for all the wrong reasons.
Ian Maatsen and Pau Torres were sent back to Bodymoor Heath after suffering minor issues.
Ezri Konsa was then seen limping off in England’s win over Greece. The 27-year-old will now miss the clash against the Republic of Ireland, with Konsa undergoing scans on Friday.
When Emery thought it couldn’t get any worse, it just has, with another one of his first-team stars suffering an injury blow.
Amadou Onana will be out for ‘two to three weeks’ in a huge blow to Aston Villa
The number of players on international duty for Aston Villa have dwindled with injuries and midfielder Amadou Onana is the latest.
Onana played the full ninety minutes as Belgium were beaten 1-0 by Italy in the penultimate game of the Nations League group.
The Belgian media praised Onana for his performance despite the loss however, it has since emerged that the midfielder has suffered a small muscle tear in his foot and will be out for two to three weeks.
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri confirmed this news on Saturday, two days after the Red Devils were beaten, and now Emery is enduring a full-blown injury crisis.
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Aston Villa could have eight players out for Crystal Palace clash
Onana has been ‘outstanding’ for Villa this term following his £50 million move from Everton in the summer and he’s one of eight players who could miss the game against Palace.
Cash, Barkley, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen and Kamara all remain doubtful at the moment while Onana and Ramsey will most definitely miss the game.
Emery knew that with Champions League commitments, his squad would be tested to the maximum but it’s been international matches that have been most detrimental.
Players seem as though they’re being overworked given this is the third international break of the season.
The Aston Villa boss will only pray that none of his other players pick up injuries, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Jhon Duran and others set to play another game before returning to Bodymoor Heath.
