Aston Villa hit with major injury blow as key midfielder ruled out for weeks

Aston Villa’s growing injury list has just received a significant addition, as midfielder Amadou Onana is set to be sidelined for up to three weeks. The £50 million summer signing from Everton sustained a muscle tear in his foot during Belgium's 1-0 defeat to Italy in the UEFA Nations League. This injury comes at a particularly testing time for Villa manager Unai Emery, who is already dealing with a mounting injury crisis.

Impact on Aston Villa’s upcoming fixtures

Onana’s absence leaves Aston Villa shorthanded for several key matches in the coming weeks. The Belgian international has been a key figure in Villa’s midfield since his arrival in the summer, and his absence will be felt in both domestic and European competitions.

The 23-year-old midfielder will miss Villa’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace, scheduled for 23 November. Additionally, his injury rules him out of the club’s crucial Champions League group-stage tie against Juventus on 27 November.

If his recovery takes the full three weeks, Onana could also be forced to sit out further important fixtures, including the 1 December showdown against Chelsea, as well as the Brentford and Southampton games on 4 and 7 December, respectively.

Given his role in the team, losing Onana for any of these matches could prove costly to Villa’s ambitions, both in the Premier League and on the European stage.

Villa’s mounting injury crisis

Onana’s injury adds to an already troubling situation at Villa Park, where the club is grappling with a growing list of sidelined players. Matty Cash and Ross Barkley are in the middle of their rehabilitation from injuries, while Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey also picked up knocks in Villa’s recent 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

The international break didn’t prove any kinder to Emery’s squad. Ian Maatsen and Pau Torres were both sent home early from their respective national teams after picking up minor issues. To compound matters, defender Ezri Konsa was seen limping during England’s victory over Greece, sparking further concerns about his availability.

With potentially up to eight first-team players unavailable for the upcoming Crystal Palace clash, Emery faces a significant challenge in fielding a competitive line-up.

Onana’s performance and Villa’s challenges ahead

Despite the injury setback, Onana has shown promise in his short time with Villa. Boasting a 90% pass accuracy, he ranks among the Premier League’s top 20 percentile for midfielders. His defensive contributions, including a 60% tackle success rate and a 55% duel completion rate, have solidified his role as a key player in Emery’s system.

However, not everything has been smooth sailing. In the match against Italy, where he sustained the injury, Onana struggled, winning only 33% of his duels and losing possession six times. This has raised some eyebrows about Belgium’s decision to keep him on the field for the full 90 minutes, given his visible dip in performance during the game.

With four consecutive losses already weighing heavily on the team, Emery will need to find creative solutions to plug the gaps left by Onana and other injured players. Ross Barkley’s improving form could offer a much-needed boost in midfield, but it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to overcome the challenges ahead.