Major blow: “Amazing” £130k/w Aston Villa man now one of 5 stars ruled out vs Tottenham
Aston Villa face a crucial FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur, but they will have to navigate the fixture without several key players, including one of their most important attacking threats.
The challenge of balancing domestic and European commitments has tested the squad’s depth, mirroring Newcastle United’s struggles last season.
However, unlike the Magpies, Villa acted decisively in the transfer market, securing reinforcements such as Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, Andres Garcia, Marcus Rashford, and Axel Disasi. These additions bolstered the squad but came at a cost, with Jhon Duran’s departure to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League helping fund the deals.
While selling Duran made financial sense, his absence has now created an attacking dilemma following the latest injury setback. Unai Emery confirmed that star forward Ollie Watkins will miss the Spurs encounter due to an untimely injury, leaving Villa without a recognized striker.
Emery may be forced to adapt his approach, potentially deploying Malen or handing Rashford his debut in a central role. This tactical adjustment will be necessary as Villa also contend with the absences of Ross Barkley, Pau Torres, Matty Cash, and Tyrone Mings.
Speaking to the media, Emery detailed the injury situation, explaining that Watkins remains unavailable and has yet to return to training.
The manager expressed hope that the striker could recover in time for next week but ruled him out of the upcoming cup tie. With Watkins sidelined, Villa must rely on their new signings to step up immediately, particularly in the attacking third.
Rashford presents an intriguing option, though many consider his best position to be on the left rather than as a central striker. However, given the current circumstances, he may have no choice but to fill that role.
Watkins’ absence is a significant blow, and Emery is fully aware of how much the forward brings to the team. Earlier this season, the manager described Watkins as “amazing,” underlining his importance to Villa’s attacking play.
His work rate, movement, and finishing ability have been instrumental, and replacing those attributes will be no easy task. Without Duran as a backup option, Emery must now hope that Malen, Rashford, and the other new arrivals can adapt quickly and provide the cutting edge Villa need in a high-stakes fixture.
As they prepare for this pivotal encounter, Villa will need to adjust both tactically and mentally to compensate for their missing stars.
The challenge of maintaining their attacking threat without Watkins will test Emery’s ability to adapt, but the quality of their January signings offers hope.
The upcoming match against Spurs will serve as a key indicator of how well Villa can cope with adversity and whether their squad depth is truly capable of handling the demands of multiple competitions.