Injury Crisis Looms Over Premier League Midweek Clash
The Premier League returns to midweek action this week, with clubs across the division taking to the field under the lights in a bid to secure crucial points ahead of the FA Cup fourth round weekend. One of the standout fixtures sees Aston Villa host Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on Wednesday night, a match overshadowed by significant injury concerns for both sides.
Villa's Struggle for Form and Fitness
Aston Villa will be hoping to get back to winning ways against their out-of-form opponents, having secured just one victory in their last five league matches. Brighton, meanwhile, have won only one of their last eleven Premier League fixtures, a run that began with a 4-3 defeat to Villa in the reverse encounter. This poor form has seen the Seagulls drop to 14th in the table, increasing pressure on head coach Fabian Hurzeler, especially after a 1-0 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Aston Villa's Injury Woes
Unai Emery's side are set to be without five first-team players for the match, with no returnees anticipated. The injury list includes:
- Boubacar Kamara – out for the season with a knee injury.
- Youri Tielemans – expected to return in April due to an ankle issue.
- John McGinn – also sidelined until April with a knee problem.
- Alysson – yet to make his Villa debut due to a knee injury, with Emery confirming a progressive return but no Premier League debut expected against Brighton.
- Andres Garcia – out with a hamstring injury, set to miss three weeks until late February.
These key absences in midfield prompted Villa to re-sign former player Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus during the January transfer window. On a positive note, the West Midlands outfit were boosted by the returns of Ollie Watkins and Amadou Onana to the starting XI in their recent 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, while Ross Barkley made a substitute appearance for his first action since November.
Brighton's Lengthy Absentee List
Brighton have their own injury concerns, with five players ruled out, but there is hope for the return of one key defender. The Seagulls' injury situation includes:
- Jan Paul van Hecke – missed the Palace match with a minor hamstring strain, described as precautionary. Hurzeler expressed hope for his return against Villa.
- Yasin Ayari – out with a shoulder injury sustained against Everton in late January.
- Mats Weiffer – closer to returning after seven matches out with a foot injury.
- Solly March – ruled out of the last four matches due to a knee issue.
- Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas – both long-term absentees with ACL injuries, expected to miss the remainder of the season.
This leaves Brighton with a total of ten players confirmed out across both squads, with Van Hecke remaining the sole doubt for the encounter. The injury crisis adds an extra layer of challenge to what promises to be a crucial Premier League battle under the lights at Villa Park.
