Aston Villa have been without midfield maestro Boubacar Kamara since the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on 11 February.
Suffering from a knee injury, the 24-year-old has not played a single minute of football in seven months, attempting to regain fitness to help Villa in their new Champions League journey.
Despite the huge miss in midfield, Unai Emery’s side have continued their brilliant form, especially with Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana forming a partnership in the middle of the park.
Once Kamara returns to full fitness, there is no doubt he will be thrown straight into the starting XI despite how well his teammates have done, and that time only looks to be “a few weeks” away.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, quoted by the Birmingham Mail [14 September], Emery said: “Very good news, very good news. They are starting to train with us – Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara.
“Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara I think in a few weeks will be available to be in the squad and start playing as well.”
Boubacar Kamara set for Aston Villa return as Unai Emery shares injury update
Before his injury last season, Kamara was one of the most impressive midfielders in the division, starring at Villa Park since his move from Marseille in the summer of 2022.
Despite his season-ending injury, the Frenchman still managed to finish the 2023/24 campaign as the club’s best tackler, making 1.6 tackles per 90 minutes with a 67 per cent success rate.
He also ranked first in terms of interceptions and ranked fifth at Villa Park for accurate passes, maintaining an 89 per cent success rate in the Premier League.
Ranking in the top 78 percentile for tackles among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, as well as the top 72 percentile for interceptions and top 72 percentile for aerials won, Kamara is hugely important [FBref].
He was even starring against Manchester United before being taken off injured, maintaining a 94 per cent passing accuracy, winning 100 per cent of his tackles, 80 per cent of his ground duels, and completing 100 per cent of his dribbles.
Fans will be hoping for the 24-year-old to hit the ground running upon his return to Emery’s squad, especially if Villa are to perform well in the Champions League this season.
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