Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings could make his first appearance for the club in almost 14 months on Wednesday evening.
Aston Villa have experienced several long-term absentees in recent times, and Tyrone Mings is one of them.
The towering centre-back was stretchered off with an ACL injury in the 5-1 defeat against Newcastle United in August 2023.
It’s been a long road to recovery for the 31-year-old but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Mings returned to Aston Villa training recently and Unai Emery said Mings could return to the Villa first-team squad after the international break.
However, supporters may get to watch the talented defender in action earlier than planned, as the Villans prepare for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Sheffield Wednesday.
Boubacar Kamara is another long-term Villa absentee. The Frenchman suffered an ACL injury in the defeat against Manchester United in February.
Much like his teammate Mings, it’s been a difficult road to recovery while watching Villa qualify and play in the Champions League.
But Kamara also returned to Aston Villa training at a similar time as the Englishman, with journalist Jacob Tanswell confirming that the 24-year-old could play alongside Mings against the Championship opponents.
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Villa currently have nine players on international duty, including Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, Leon Bailey, Pau Torres, Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Joe Gauci and Ian Maatsen.
That means there is a chance for Emery to use some of his fringe players and those returning from injury, with supporters needing to keep their eyes peeled on the team sheet to see if Mings and Kamara are present.
Emery’s defence has caused him some problems this term as Villa have leaked goals for fun but also the likes of Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa have suffered injuries.
Konsa was substituted with an injury in the goalless draw against Manchester United. The 26-year-old was withdrawn from Lee Carsley’s latest England squad as a result.
It remains to be seen whether Konsa will return after the break however, Mings comeback into the Villa squad is a timely one, with Emery currently light on defensive options.
Meanwhile, the return of Kamara is a huge boost to the Spaniard, offering him a quality defensive midfield option that wasn’t otherwise present.
Starting Kamara at the base of midfield could also enable Emery to play a strike force of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, which is music to the ears of many.
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