Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has been dealt a significant squad blow ahead of a busy festive period, with forward Evann Guessand receiving a late call-up to the Ivory Coast national team for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Late Replacement for Injured Haller
The Ivorian Football Federation confirmed the news, stating that Guessand has been added to coach Emerse Faé's squad as a replacement for the injured Sébastien Haller. The former West Ham United striker was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury sustained earlier this month.
Guessand had initially been named as one of two reserve players for the Elephants. Under tournament regulations, these reserves can be called upon to replace injured squad members before the competition begins, which is precisely what has transpired.
Key Fixtures Missed for Villa
The call-up means Guessand will be unavailable for a crucial run of Aston Villa matches. His immediate absence begins with the Premier League clash against Manchester United.
He will also miss the trip to face Chelsea on December 27 and the high-profile away fixture at Arsenal on December 30.
Ivory Coast's final group stage match is scheduled for December 31 against Gabon. Should the host nation progress, Guessand's involvement in the round of 16, set for between January 3 and 6, would also rule him out of Villa's home game against Nottingham Forest.
Potential Extended Absence
If Ivory Coast advance to the quarter-finals, which conclude on January 10, the winger would miss further Villa matches. These include the Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on January 7 and an FA Cup third-round tie away at Tottenham Hotspur.
An extended run to the semi-finals or beyond would see Guessand remain absent for Villa's home match with Everton on the weekend of January 18. The tournament's latter stages, including the semi-finals, third-place play-off, and final, are all scheduled between January 14 and 18.
This unexpected departure presents a challenge for Unai Emery, who will now have to navigate a packed schedule without one of his attacking options. The manager will be hoping his squad has the depth to cope during a traditionally demanding period in the English football calendar.
