Unai Emery has delivered a concerning update on the fitness of key midfielder Boubacar Kamara, confirming the Aston Villa star faces a potentially significant spell on the sidelines.
Kamara's knee injury sustained against Tottenham
The French international suffered a blow to his knee during the FA Cup third-round match against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. The incident occurred in the ninth minute following a challenge from Joao Palhinha.
Kamara initially attempted to play on but was forced to hobble from the pitch after treatment from Villa's medical team. He subsequently left the field and went down the tunnel, unable to continue.
Scans and ongoing assessments
Initial scans carried out on Sunday suggested the 25-year-old could be absent for two to three weeks. However, Emery indicated that the full picture is not yet clear, with further tests underway now that the swelling has reduced.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Villa's Premier League fixture against Everton this Sunday, the manager provided a sobering assessment. "Kamara is out, it is his knee," Emery confirmed. "We are checking him and he is visiting some doctors. We are going to know about him in a few days, but he is of course not available and maybe for a long time. Hopefully not so, so long a time, but we are checking him."
Midfield concerns for Villa
The potential long-term loss of Kamara is a major blow for Emery's side. The midfielder is a pivotal figure in the team's structure and was rewarded with a new long-term contract just last summer.
His absence compounds Villa's issues in the centre of the park. The club also confirmed that fellow midfielder Amadou Onana remains sidelined for at least another week due to his own injury problem. There is slightly better news regarding Ross Barkley, who is expected to return to action, albeit slightly later than initially hoped.
Emery and his medical staff will now await definitive results from the specialists before outlining a concrete rehabilitation plan for their influential player.
