Unai Emery has ruled Johan Manzambi out of Aston Villa’s trip to Hull City despite the club-record signing returning to first-team training this week.
Manzambi took part in group work on Thursday as he stepped up his recovery from a knee injury, but Emery has now confirmed Saturday’s game will come too soon.
The Villa boss instead suggested the midfielder could potentially return for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Club Brugge or the following Premier League game against Nottingham Forest.
Unai Emery rules Johan Manzambi out of Hull clash
The development provides a clear answer after Manzambi’s return to training raised hopes he could make his Aston Villa debut at the MKM Stadium.
Read Aston Villa reported this morning that the £59.5million summer signing had rejoined group training ahead of the Hull game.
Emery has now made clear that Villa will not accelerate the process.
Asked about Manzambi’s availability, the manager said the Switzerland international is feeling better but still needs “some days more” before returning to competitive action.
The midfielder has yet to play for Villa since joining from Freiburg after arriving with the knee problem which has disrupted the beginning of his career in England.
However, his return now appears to be getting close.
Emery indicated that Tuesday’s Champions League game with Club Brugge is a possibility, although he also refused to rule out waiting until Villa host Nottingham Forest afterwards.
That means Saturday is definitively too soon.
Brian Madjo also remains out for Aston Villa
Villa will also be without Brian Madjo at Hull.
Emery confirmed that the 17-year-old remains sidelined and is expected to need at least another two weeks before returning from injury.
That leaves Emery without two of the youngest attacking players in his rebuilt squad as Villa search for their first Premier League points of the season.
The manager still has several new options available.
Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are both eligible to make their Villa debuts, while Leon Goretzka has been building his fitness following his summer arrival.
But Manzambi will have to wait.
The positive news is that his debut now appears to be a matter of days rather than weeks.
