Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Aston Villa will now be without a vital player for at least two of their remaining three games of the Premier League season.
Sign up to our BirminghamWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to BirminghamWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has sustained a rare injury and could miss the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old has started all of Villa’s 35 Premier League matches this season but will miss at least two of the final three, with even the third - away at Manchester United on the final day - now a stretch. Tielemans is so often one of the most reliable in the squad for fitness, but even he isn’t immune to setbacks.
Birmingham World understands, as earlier reported by The Athletic, that Tielemans has suffered a muscular problem. It’s nothing serious but it’s enough to rule him out for around two weeks, making his return date very close to the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, May 25. It’s the first injury he has sustained since a groin problem last April and May.
Tielemans, often utilised in a midfield double pivot alongside either Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana or John McGinn, is absolutely pivotal to the way Villa play. The Belgium international is the cornerstone, the creator, the benefactor of calm.
Last month, Tielemans became the first Villa player to start more than 50 games in a single season since Alan Wright and Mark Bosnich in 1995/96. He’s started 52 all in all across the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, only ever really afforded a rest in the Carabao Cup games back in August and September.
Emery will be gutted to lose Tielemans for two - or possibly three - pivotal matches in the race for Champions League football. Villa are still well-equipped without him, but Tielemans’ quality so often shines through, even when the Villans aren’t performing well.
After the narrow 1-0 win over Fulham, a game in which Tielemans scored the only goal, Emery spoke of his delight at his number eight’s progress. “His commitment with us is fantastic, his qualities and how we are trying to get of him in our structure is very important,” Emery told Birmingham World.
“Last year, he was adapting and progressively getting better. But he didn’t play like this year and also played in different positions too. This year he has been more consistent playing as a number eight, or a 10.
“Those positions are something he can dominate. Of course, he is a very good example how he works every day and takes a commitment with us to try to get our objective, working hard.”
Who will step up for Aston Villa in Youri Tielemans’ absence?
It’s difficult to figure out exactly who Emery will turn to while Tielemans is sidelined as he often chops and changes between a host of options at his disposal. Taking on AFC Bournemouth next before hosting Tottenham Hotspur, Villa will have to be at their best knowing they need maximum points for a realistic chance of finishing in the top five.
John McGinn is perhaps the favourite to step into the centre if Emery prefers the captain’s feisty nature and ability to escape the press on the half-turn. McGinn often starts on the left flank but could step inside, allowing Jacob Ramsey to move into the XI out wide.
Amadou Onana can’t be ruled out, either, as the £50 million summer signing offers plenty of physicality in the centre of the park. Emery has also turned to the Belgian recently when he’s wanted Kamara and Onana in the pivot, therefore moving Tielemans into the number 10 role. In this structure, Tielemans could instead be replaced by Marco Asensio.
Then there’s Ross Barkley, who has been patiently awaiting opportunities to play after a string of injury problems. The former Everton and Chelsea man is now back up to full fitness but hasn’t started a match for Villa since the 2-1 win over Leicester City on January 4. Maybe he could get a chance.