LONDON, United Kingdom — Aston Villa’s remarkable Premier League campaign has encountered a significant setback with the confirmation that midfielder Youri Tielemans faces an extended period on the sidelines. The Belgian international sustained an ankle injury during Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park, forcing his substitution in the 74th minute following a challenge with Lewis Miley.
Medical assessments have revealed the 28-year-old playmaker could be unavailable for up to ten weeks, compounding manager Unai Emery’s selection dilemmas. This development exacerbates Villa’s already concerning midfield casualty list, with both Boubacar Kamara and captain John McGinn undergoing treatment for serious knee injuries.
Emery provided a sobering update during his midweek press conference: “We recognize the challenges with Kamara, McGinn and now Tielemans. Kamara’s situation appears season-ending, while McGinn requires approximately six to eight weeks for recovery. Youri’s timeline extends to eight to ten weeks, necessitating strategic management of our remaining midfield resources.”
The timing proves particularly inconvenient for third-placed Villa, who trail league leaders Arsenal by merely four points as they pursue their first top-flight crown since 1981. However, Emery hinted at potential reinforcements, notably confirming advanced negotiations for Douglas Luiz’s return. The Brazilian midfielder, who previously made over 200 appearances for Villa before transferring to Juventus in 2024, spent the initial half of this season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
Additional optimism emerges with Amadou Onana’s impending return and Ross Barkley’s expected comeback within days. “Barkley has been progressing through individual training and approaches full integration with the squad,” Emery noted regarding the former Chelsea player.
Despite these injury concerns, Villa maintain European commitments, hosting RB Salzburg in Thursday’s Europa League group stage finale. Having already secured advancement to the knockout phase, victory would guarantee top position in the league phase standings.