Aston Villa are set to be without one star player for their away clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Unai Emery faces a difficult task this weekend. The Birmingham outfit are set to travel to London to take on a Spurs side who are aiming to rekindle their Champions League ambitions.
Villa will come into the game a bit out of form. A last-minute equaliser from Bournemouth cost the Villains two points last weekend and Crystal Palace knocked Emery’s side out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
However, there have been positives. Both Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara have returned to fitness and competed in the Carabao Cup mid-week.
Unfortunately, not everyone is fit for the upcoming tie, with Emery confirming that the side has suffered another injury blow.
Ross Barkley set to miss Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Since Ross Barkley returned to Villa in the summer, he has slowly become an integral part of Emery’s side.
As it stands, he has already bagged a goal and an assist and has played in all three of Villa’s Champions League ties.
Against Bournemouth last weekend, Barkley took the headlines after he initially put the hosts ahead.
However, in his recent press conference, Emery confirmed that Villa will have to make do without Barkley this weekend.
He said: “We had only one injured player and it’s Ross Barkley. He has a small injury, but he’s not going to be available for the next two weeks.”
Unai Emery needs to get a result against Tottenham
Villa’s upcoming match against Tottenham could be a crucial early fixture. After a poor last two results, bringing back at least a point could be vital.
On top of this, Emery clearly sacrificed the Carabao Cup in order to get a result in the capital on Sunday. If he fails to achieve this, it would certainly be a big missed opportunity.
While Barkley’s injury no doubt harms Villa’s chances, they still have enough quality to get the job done.
Hopefully, by Sunday night, Emery can prove that the last two games were just a blip and put the club on back on track.
