On Thursday night, Aston Villa will travel to Amsterdam to play Ajax in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League match.
A crucial week for Unai Emery’s team begins with the European match on Sunday, as Tottenham Hotspur will visit Villa Park.
Diego Carlos and Jhon Duran’s return to training has helped Aston Villa. The two follow Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa out of the treatment area.
With Konsa, Torres, and Carlos back, the Spaniard might rearrange his backline. With his constant presence since the beginning of the year, Clement Lenglet might benefit from a nap before a hectic schedule.
One concern is midfielder Jacob Ramsey.
Additionally, Emery stated during his most recent news conference that the “very important” midfielder would miss the trip to Amsterdam.
Ramsey out Vs Ajax
Positive news regarding Jacob Ramsey for Aston Villa was posted by Matt Maher of The Express and Star on his personal X account. He is not ruled out of the game against Tottenham on Sunday, but he will miss tomorrow’s play against Ajax. It’s not a serious injury, according to Unai Emery.
Regarding the midfielder’s availability for tomorrow, Emery continued, “He is not available.” Although he doesn’t have a serious injury, we must monitor his recovery daily in order for him to be available for Sunday’s play.
“The good news is that it’s not a major injury like he had previously.”
Positive news for #avfc on Jacob Ramsey. He'll miss tomorrow's match v Ajax but not yet ruled out v Tottenham on Sunday. Unai Emery says it isn't a serious injury.
— matt maher (@mjmarr_star) March 6, 2024
Ajax is also struggling with several injuries. After spending time on the sidelines with a medical issue, former Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn is anticipated to miss out. Defender Josip Sutalo is also out of Thursday’s clash, and Anton Gaaei and Steven Berghuis are both doubts.
Will Emery change the starting lineup for Aston Villa?
As mentioned earlier, it wouldn’t be shocking to see one or two starters sit out the first leg.
The attraction of European knockout football lies in the fact that a rematch may always make up for any losses.
Maintaining the squad’s fitness will be essential given the important encounter against Tottenham three days later and Ange Postecoglou’s team’s free week prior.
The match this weekend seems like a pivotal point in the campaign. With a game remaining, Spurs can catch up to Villa by just two points with an away victory.