Unai Emery has delivered a significant injury update, confirming that Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Midfielder's season disrupted again
Ross Barkley is expected to be absent for between eight and twelve weeks after suffering a knee sprain during Villa's recent victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The injury occurred in the 88th minute of the match, mere moments after Barkley had entered the pitch as a substitute for Youri Tielemans.
Initial assessments following the 1-0 win at Villa Park suggested the issue might not be severe. However, further medical examination revealed the damage to be more substantial than first feared, prompting the extended recovery timeline announced by the manager.
Emery's squad depth tested
Speaking ahead of his team's midweek trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion, Emery expressed his disappointment at the setback. "They are out tomorrow, Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley," the Villa boss stated. "I don't know how long exactly Barkley is out for, but maybe eight, 10 or 12 weeks."
Emery added, "It is a pity because we were getting a good performance from him. He was so close to the starting XI." This news compounds Villa's selection headaches, with defender Tyrone Mings also unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring problem.
A frustrating campaign for Barkley
This latest injury represents another frustrating chapter in Barkley's season. The former England international had already missed the first ten games of the campaign due to a personal matter, only returning to the matchday squad against Burnley prior to the October international break.
His appearance against Wolves was just his eighth of the season, and his promising cameo was cut cruelly short. The club will now hope for a straightforward recovery process as they navigate a busy period of Premier League and potential European fixtures without a key squad player.
