Fixtures
- Leicester City Vs. Aston Villa – Sat, Aug 31st 2024, 15:00
Aston Villa will be without Matty Cash and Diego Carlos for Saturday’s trip to Leicester City.
Cash was forced off after just 16 minutes of last weekend’s defeat to Arsenal at Villa Park, replaced by Kosta Nedeljković.
The right-back has been ruled out for 3-4 weeks and is joined on the sidelines by fellow defender Carlos, who has also picked up a small injury.
Long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara continue to make progress with their respective recoveries, but the clash against the Foxes comes too soon.
Ollie Watkins has been withdrawn just after the hour mark in the club’s first two Premier League matches of the season.
And manager Unai Emery gave an update on the striker’s fitness ahead of the trip to King Power Stadium.
Indicating what Watkins required to be able to complete 90 minutes, Emery said: “Time, because the players who were playing until the last moment in competitions with their national teams had less holidays than others.
“Especially for him, he was coming here with a small injury, he was not really 100 per cent when he started training with us.
“He needed one week more resting time than other players after his comeback.
“Now, after playing two matches, I think he’s going to feel better and better, and comfortable as well remembering how we want to get his best performances helping us.
“He played good, not brilliant, he played good last week and he did the job, always, we’re demanding of him.
“Of course, we want his goals as well. He had two very good chances, he didn’t score, but the most important thing is to create chances.
“Watkins is coming back progressively and he’s going to help and get his performances being very important for us, increasing his level.”
