Boubacar Kamara is targeting a return to fitness for the start of Aston Villa’s pre-season programme.
The France midfielder has been working through his recovery at Bodymoor Heath after a knee injury disrupted the second half of last season.
RotoWire, citing Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic, reports that Kamara hopes to be fit for the start of pre-season and feature in Villa’s friendly schedule.
That would be a timely lift for Unai Emery.
Villa face another demanding campaign across domestic and European competition, and Kamara remains one of the few midfielders in the squad who can naturally screen the defence while keeping the ball moving under pressure.
Kamara Return Would Help Emery’s Midfield Plan
Kamara’s return would matter beyond a routine fitness update.
Villa leaned heavily on Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and John McGinn last season, while Emery’s system needs midfielders who can protect the centre-backs without slowing the team’s passing rhythm.
At his best, Kamara gives Villa control.
He can win the ball, hold his position and allow the players ahead of him to take more risks. That balance became harder to find while he was unavailable.
The Guardian reported in January that Villa considered midfield cover after Kamara was expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Read Aston Villa has already covered how Villa’s midfield injury issues shaped their January planning.
A controlled return during pre-season would give Emery time to rebuild Kamara’s rhythm before competitive fixtures arrive.
Villa will still need to manage him carefully. The priority is not just getting him back on the pitch, but keeping him there.
If Kamara can complete pre-season without a setback, Emery’s midfield suddenly looks far more secure.
That would give Villa a stronger base before another season that will ask plenty of a squad already stretched by domestic and European demands.
