An action-packed weekly Friday news conference for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery today, ahead of Sunday’s visit from Manchester United. Emery provided injury updates on the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Harvey Elliott, Pau Torres Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley. There is a lot of information to cover, and the weekend is almost here, so let’s just dive straight in.
Manchester United at Aston Villa FYIs
Kickoff: Sun. December 21, 4:30pm, Villa Park, Birmingham, UK
Team News: Manchester United Aston Villa
Starting 11 Predictions for Both Sides: go here
PL Position, Form: Manchester United 6th, 26 pts, LWDWD Aston Villa 3rd, 33 pts, WWWWW
Google Result Probability: Manchester United 29% Draw 26% Aston Villa 45%
Aston Villa Team News
Emiliano Martinez
What’s the injury? Lower back. When is he potentially coming back? Maybe on Sunday.
Said Emery today: “Emiliano is progressing well, he is training individually and feeling better, much better. Tomorrow, we will decide if he is available or not.”
Harvey Elliott
What’s the injury? Illness. When is he potentially coming back? Possibly Sunday.
Said Emery today: “Elliott is sick today; he hasn’t trained today or yesterday as well. And another player, normally, if everything’s going well, tomorrow he’ll be training and will be available for Sunday.”
Pau Torres
What’s the injury? Lower leg. When is he potentially coming back? Around New Year’s
Said Emery today: “Pau Torres, more or less, the same; one week or two weeks, something like that.”
Tyrone Mings
What’s the injury? Thigh. When is he potentially coming back? Sometime in mid to late January.
Said Emery today: ‘Tyrone is still injured, he’s getting better, maybe in a few weeks, he’s joining us.’
Ross Barkley
What’s the injury? Knee. When is he potentially coming back? Maybe next week.
Said Emery today: “Ross Barkley is still injured, longer than those two players (Mings and Torres).”
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, RG.org and Ratings.org. 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.