Emery fumes as another Villa star falls victim to international duty injury

Aston Villa's injury troubles have taken another hit as Jaden Philogene finds himself on the sidelines. The setback occurred during England's Under-21 European Championship qualifier against Ukraine, where Philogene played a crucial role in the 2-1 victory before being substituted after 84 minutes. Although Monday's scans revealed the injury isn't as severe as initially feared, his participation in Villa's upcoming Premier League clash with Fulham remains uncertain.

Mounting injury concerns

Manager Unai Emery is feeling the pressure as Philogene's injury adds to a growing list of sidelined players. The team is already grappling with the absence of key figures, including defender Ezri Konsa, who withdrew from the England senior squad after sustaining an injury against Manchester United.

Midfielder Jacob Ramsey has also been out but holds hope for a return in time for the Fulham match. Meanwhile, Amadou Onana has missed recent games due to an injury picked up against Bayern Munich.

Emery has raised concerns about international call-ups for Emery has renewed his criticism of under-21 international call-ups, with Philogene's injury fuelling his concerns. He had previously spoken out against Morgan Rogers' inclusion in England's Under-21 squad in August, questioning whether such call-ups are really necessary. The Spaniard remarked,

"I respect that they are not calling him for the first team, but the second team? He is not a player for the second team."

He recalled last year's incident when Jacob Ramsey returned injured from international duty and missed much of the season, which significantly impacted the team's performance.

A glimmer of hope from returning players

Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope for Aston Villa supporters. Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings, both recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, may be available for selection after the international break. Their return could provide a much-needed boost to the squad as they face a demanding schedule ahead.

Aston Villa's immediate focus is on their upcoming fixtures, starting with an away match against Fulham on Saturday, followed by a midweek home game against Bologna. Emery is eager to see his injured players recover swiftly to help maintain the team's strong start across various competitions. The emphasis now lies on evaluating the fitness of these players and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.