Aston Villa boss Unai Emery provides Diego Carlos injury update ahead of Chelsea clash
Latest Aston Villa news as Unai Emery gives an injury update on defender Diego Carlos ahead of the Premier League game against Chelsea
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has given an injury update on defender Diego Carlos.
The centre-back picked up a hamstring injury when Villa suffered a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on September 3. Emery described the injury as a “small” one at the time, and has now given a fresh update on the 30-year-old.
Speaking after the defeat to Legia Warsaw on Thursday evening, Emery gave an injury update and confirmed when Carlos would be back in training. He stressed the importance of the other defenders in his squad, particularly given the fixture congestion created by the Europa Conference League participation.
“We are thinking maybe the next week he could be ready to start training with the group,” Emery said. “We can use other players with experiences like him and then we can try to play matches like we are playing, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday. We can use and practise different tactical decisions, we can play being stronger.”
Villa are back in Premier League action on Sunday when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (14:00 BST). That match will come too soon for Carlos with the defender due back in group training next week. He could make the game at home to Brighton on Saturday, September 30, or perhaps the game against Zrinjski five days later.
Betway spokesman, Chad Yeomans, said: “Chelsea are perhaps surprisingly the odds-on favourites (7/8) to win this one after their poor start to the season, which means Unai Emery’s men at 14/5 have been attracting plenty of support to grab the away win.
“Moussa Diaby has settled in quickly at Aston Villa since his summer move from Leverkusen and looks like a great signing. The French winger has two Premier League goals already and is 5/2 with us here to add another. All of Villa’s games have been thrillers so far in the Premier League, with over 2.5 goals landing in all five fixtures. Those expecting the goals to keep coming can back Over 2.5 goals at 4/6 and Over 3.5 goals at 17/10.
“One of the only positives for Chelsea this season has been the resurgence of Raheem Sterling. The winger still looks very sharp in the final third and he’s 19/4 to score first or 6/4 to score anytime.”
