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Aston Villa’s injury problems deepened with captain John McGinn facing a spell of weeks on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury against Everton. McGinn did not travel for Thursday’s Europa League match at Fenerbahce, where Villa will also be without goalkeeper Emi Martinez and midfielder Boubacar Kamara. Unai Emery said the club is still awaiting specialist advice.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn facing weeks out after knee injury
Injury-hit Aston Villa were dealt another setback with captain John McGinn set to miss a number of weeks. The Scotland midfielder, 31, was forced off early in Sunday’s defeat by Everton with a knee injury and did not travel to Turkey for Thursday’s Europa League game at Fenerbahce.
Manager Unai Emery said Villa are still waiting on a clearer diagnosis. “We are still waiting because he is still visiting some doctors to have a decision (on) what to do,” Emery told a news conference in Turkey. “It could be for some weeks or it could be (less), it depends on the doctor and how he’s feeling.”
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez is also absent with a calf problem, while midfielder Boubacar Kamara remains out. Reports have suggested Kamara is out for the season after coming off with a knee injury against Tottenham last week, though the club have yet to provide an update. New winger Alysson also missed the trip with a knee issue, and Ross Barkley stayed in Birmingham.
Villa arrived in Turkey on Wednesday afternoon, while president of football operations Roberto Olabe flew out on Monday to watch striker Tammy Abraham play for Besiktas. Abraham, on loan from Roma, featured as Besiktas beat Kayserispor 1-0, with the Turkish club having activated an option to buy the 28-year-old for about £12m, a move which is making negotiations difficult.
Meanwhile, Leon Bailey has returned to Villa after the club agreed to cancel his loan at Roma. There was no recall clause in the deal, with Roma holding an option to buy, but the clubs agreed it was in the best interests of all parties for Bailey to come back after an injury-hit spell in which he made just one league start.
