Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has given an update on Amadou Onana’s fitness
Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana(Image: Getty Images)
Unai Emery will take a late check on Amadou Onana before Aston Villa’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest.
The 24-year-old missed Villa’s 1-0 defeat against Fulham due to a minor knee injury, with Unai Emery explaining that he felt “a small pain” before the trip to London.
Onana was left behind and his absence was felt at Craven Cottage, as Villa failed to capitalise on a major opportunity to strengthen their push for a return to the Champions League.
Before the weekend, Onana had started nine consecutive Premier League matches, as well as nine of the club’s last 10 Europa League fixtures.
In his pre-match press conference, Emery was asked about Onana’s fitness.
“We train this afternoon. We will see how he is responding – if he he feeling good to play tomorrow,” he explained.
“Some players have small pain, like Onana. He was being tested yesterday and today we must test him again. We play tomorrow 100 per cent every player. In case not, we must respond with the players who are ready.”
Villa will be without Ross Barkley and Alysson on Thursday night, as neither player was included in the club’s European squad for the knockout stages.
Boubacar Kamara remains a long-term absentee after suffering a knee injury in January.
This will be the first European meeting between the two sides and Villa’s first continental fixture against opposition from their own country.
They have won 15 of their last 17 European matches, including each of their last nine – the longest winning streak in the club’s UEFA history and an English record in the Europa League proper.
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