Top News

Johan Manzambi will be unavailable for Aston Villa’s opening Champions League fixture against Club Brugge as he continues to recover from injury.

Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed the midfielder is making good progress, but will not be fit in time to play in Belgium. Leon Goretzka is also out of action and is not expected back until after the international break because of a knee injury.

There is more encouraging news for Villa in midfield, though, with Joao Gomes available once again after completing a suspension in the Premier League.

“The injured players, for me, are something normal,” Emery said.

“Every player is the same, and when we are closing the squad with two players for each position, with some young players trying to use their potential more and more, like George, performing very well.

“Other players can have some injuries and we must be ready to replace them. We have Joao Gomes available after his suspension in the Premier League.

“Goretzka’s injury and his issue is a little bit frustrating, but we have players to replace him, like Ross Barkley, like Joao Gomes, Lamare Bogarde and Kamara.”

Emery is hopeful Goretzka can build some consistency once he returns, after the experienced midfielder was added to the squad during the summer.

“When he’s coming back, hopefully he can get the consistency training and playing and we can add his experience because his experience is something we added when we signed him,” Emery said.

“He’s a player who will help us in different competitions with the level he has.”