Aston Villa’s injury woes continue to mount, leaving Unai Emery searching for answers. The club has now suffered first-half injuries in five consecutive matches, with Boubacar Kamara the latest casualty in their 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town. As they prepare to face Liverpool, the squad is stretched thin at a crucial stage of the season.
Kamara’s muscular issue adds to an already concerning list of absentees. Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, Leon Bailey, and Ross Barkley are all sidelined. The situation is eerily similar to last season, where Villa’s depth was tested by persistent fitness setbacks. Emery admitted the club is struggling to pinpoint the exact cause.
“It’s difficult to know exactly the reason for the injured players,” he said. “We are playing a lot of matches, which adds more risk. Kamara was ready to play but had some problems in his back. But the injury is not coming from his back, it is in his hamstrings.”
Despite the challenges, there is some relief on the horizon. Emery confirmed Bailey, Cash, and Konsa are nearing returns, though their availability for the Liverpool match remains uncertain. Tyrone Mings is fit to start and is expected to step in for Kamara in central defence.
Villa sit ninth in the Premier League, six points off the top four. The upcoming clash against Liverpool is the first of four matches in nine days, a brutal stretch that could define their season. The squad’s resilience will be tested as they push to stay in contention for European football.
Emery and his medical staff are working to prevent further setbacks, but with the fixtures coming in thick and fast, the risk remains high. Their highest best will be that these injuries don’t wreck their season.
