With the international break being so much longer than usual, we’re finding that our Team News preview articles are also becoming greater in length. That’s because the three week FIFA window brought more injury, recovery and rehabilitation news than is typical for your usual September-October international break. Aston Villa has a long list, and it includes the likes of Ian Maatsen, Brian Madjo, Pau Torres, Leon Goretzka, Marco Bizot, Alysson, Matty Cash and Amadou Onana.
Aston Villa vs Brentford FYIs
Kickoff: Sat. Oct 10, 3pm, Villa Park, Birmingham, UK
Aston Villa Detailed Full Injury List: go here
Result Probability via Google: Aston Villa 36% Draw 27% Brentford 37%
Premier League Form, Standings: Aston Villa LLDLW, 16th, 4 pts Brentford WDDDW, 4th, 9 pts
Aston Villa Team News
Let’s go over the injury and fitness situation for Villa, ahead of Saturday’s visit from Brentford. We start with Madjo, who has been out since mid-August with an ankle injury. He could make his first Premier League matchday squad of the season here.
We’ll just have to wait and see if he is finally passed fit. We’re also awaiting the debut of Leon Goretzka in a claret shirt.
He’s just been building up match fitness levels for the past few weeks.
Put him in the “doubt” category, along with the likes of Pau Torres (hamstring strain), Marco Bizot (lower back pain) and Alysson (unspecified muscular injury).
Elsewhere Matty Cash will be fine, as he only has a dead leg while Ian Maatsen (ankle) and Amadou Onana (ACL) remain sidelined.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.