Aston Villa are set to be without a number of first teams stars as they prepare to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Unai Emery's men are just a place behind the Blues in the league and could leave Graham Potter's side in the bottom half with a win.
They will have to do it without star right-back Matty Cash though after the Polish international was injured on international duty. The 25-year-old was taken off in the ninth minute of Poland's EURO 2024 qualifier against Czech Republic last Friday.
Cash, who has been linked with Chelsea in the past before Malo Gusto was signed as a backup for Reece James, will leave a hole in Emery's squad having started the last five games in the league.
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He's not the only one that will be unavailable for the Spanish manager either. Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho faces a test against time to be back having missed action before the break. "Coutinho is injured, and it’s longer than one week," Emery said. "It’s a muscular injury. I think he’ll be out for one month, more or less. Yes, after the international break."
Key midfielder Boubacar Kamara is also a doubt having missed the last two league matches. The Frenchman has made a massive difference to Villa and is another that will face a late test. "Boubacar is not ready for Sunday but he’s going well," Emery said before the break. "He was speaking with the doctor this morning and he’s doing well. It’s not too serious.
“His return depends, two weeks out maybe is long for Kamara himself. He was playing well and is important. We are going to check with each match. He will not be involved on Sunday but, next week, we’ll have a look. But he’s doing OK.”
Leander Dendonker also remains out. He has missed the last three games with a wrist injury that Emery described as ''a domestic accident.'
Backup goalkeeper Jed Steer is also injured and won't play.
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