Aston Villa Receive Major Injury Boost Ahead of Leeds United Match
Unai Emery has delivered a significant injury update for Aston Villa, confirming that defender Matty Cash will be available for selection in their upcoming Premier League clash against Leeds United this Saturday. This news comes as a welcome relief for Villa fans, with Cash having missed the club's last two matches due to a minor knee injury.
Cash's Return and Team News
Matty Cash, the Poland international right-back, sat out Villa's recent FA Cup fixture against Newcastle United and their Premier League game against Brighton. During his absence, Lamare Bogarde stepped in to fill the full-back role. However, Emery announced that Cash has now returned to training and is feeling good, making him a likely candidate for the starting lineup against Leeds.
"Matty Cash is coming back," Emery stated. "He trained the last two training sessions good and he is feeling good. He is coming back."
Unfortunately, not all news is positive for Villa. Emery also confirmed that other injured players, including Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, and Alysson, remain sidelined. Additionally, Harvey Elliott is not available for the match.
Villa's Form and Historical Context
Aston Villa are aiming to secure consecutive home league victories after their win over Brighton earlier this month. Historically, Villa have a strong record against Leeds, remaining unbeaten in their last six Premier League encounters. They are also looking to achieve the double over Leeds for only the second time in the competition, with the first instance occurring in the 1999-2000 season.
Leeds United's Recent Performance
Leeds United have shown resilience since the start of December, with only Manchester City and Manchester United losing fewer Premier League games in that period. However, they have also recorded the most draws during this time. On the road, Leeds have struggled, winning just one of their last 18 away Premier League matches—a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in September.
Despite being winless in their last 10 away games, Leeds have managed draws in five of their last six matches, including a notable comeback from 2-0 down to draw at Chelsea under manager Daniel Farke. This sets the stage for an intriguing battle as Villa look to capitalize on their injury boost and maintain their strong home form.
