- Amadou Onana was absent from this afternoon’s match day squad that were beaten 1-0 by Fulham
- After the game, Unai Emery delivered an update on why the Belgian was missing
Unai Emery is unsure about the length of Amadou Onana’s injury, and if he will be available for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest.
The Belgian missed Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday, where Ryan Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game inside the first half.
Lamare Bogarde replaced Onana in the starting lineup, surprisingly ahead of Douglas Luiz.
After the game, Emery was asked whether Onana would be available for Villa’s next match on Thursday.
“I don’t know if he will be available for Thursday. It’s about how every day he is progressing.
“I don’t know if he will be ready for tomorrow, Thursday or next Sunday. The only player we know can’t play is Barkley as he is not in the list.”
The Spaniard described the injury as minor, saying the 24-year-old “was not feeling good yesterday” and referenced “small pain.”
In training pictures ahead of the match, Onana had strapping around his right knee, which could suggest the location of the injury.
How impactful could his injury be?
If Onana’s injury sidelines him for the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, Villa risk losing the “muscle” in their midfield. The battle with Forest will be an intense one, and the Villans will need to be strong in tackles, and up for the fight.
They lack that type of player when he is out of the team. Bogarde stepped in this afternoon, but wasn’t effective, and Douglas Luiz is a ball player rather than an enforcer.
As the extent of his injury is unknown, with Villa’s schedule beginning to increase, he could miss a few crucial games.
Here are their next five fixtures:
| Team | Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest (A) | Thursday 30th April | Europa League semi-final first leg |
| Tottenham (H) | Sunday 3rd May | Premier League |
| Nottingham Forest (H) | Thursday 7th May | Europa League semi-final second leg |
| Burnley (A) | Sunday 10th May | Premier League |
| Liverpool (H) | Sunday 17th May | Premier League |
The uncertainty surrounding Onana’s injury leaves Villa in a precarious position at a crucial point in the season. Without his physical presence to anchor the midfield, the game against Forest becomes that little bit harder.
Whether the Belgian recovers in time or Emery is forced to reinvent his tactical spine, Villa certainly have work to do to secure their Champions League hopes.
