Aston Villa's remarkable nine-match winning run faces a significant hurdle this weekend as manager Unai Emery grapples with a mounting injury list ahead of Manchester United's visit to Villa Park.
Villa's Winning Streak Under Threat
The Villans are in scintillating form, with their latest victory a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against West Ham United. However, maintaining this momentum against Erik ten Hag's side will be a challenge with several key figures sidelined.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez missed the trip to the London Stadium, with deputy Marco Bizot stepping in. Emery provided a hopeful update, stating: "Hopefully Emi Martinez can come back next week to train." His expected return is set for the Manchester United fixture on December 21.
Detailed Injury List and Return Dates
The absentee list extends far beyond the Argentine shot-stopper. Midfielder Ross Barkley suffered a knee sprain against Wolverhampton Wanderers that was worse than initially feared. Emery confirmed Barkley will be out for "a little bit more" than teammate Tyrone Mings, with a return expected in late February 2026.
In defence, Pau Torres is nursing a "small injury" sustained in the win over Arsenal. He is predicted to return in early January 2026. Centre-back Tyrone Mings, who has been out since early November with a hamstring issue, is also targeting a comeback in early January.
Sancho Ineligible for Parent Club Clash
Adding to Emery's selection headache is the absence of on-loan winger Jadon Sancho. As per standard Premier League loan rules, the Manchester United player is ineligible to face his parent club this Sunday. Villa fans can expect to see him back in contention for the away trip to Chelsea on December 27.
This confluence of injuries and loan restrictions presents Unai Emery with his toughest tactical test in recent weeks as he aims to extend Villa's extraordinary winning sequence against one of the league's traditional giants.
