Unai Emery confirms key Aston Villa defender set to miss Man Utd match but £33m man could return

Unai Emery has confirmed Ezri Konsa will miss Aston Villa’s Premier League clash against Manchester United this weekend.

The defender’s run of 61 straight league appearances will end at Villa Park on Sunday, following the injury the 26-year-old picked up in the recent 5-0 win over Sheffield United. Konsa collided with the post in the second half and had to be replaced at Bramall Lane.

Speaking ahead of Villa’s FA Cup fourth-round replay against Chelsea on Wednesday night, Emery confirmed Konsa will be missing for the next few weeks.

“Ezri is injured,” he explained. “He has a knee sprain and is not going to be available. I don’t know, three or four weeks more or less.”

But in better news for the Villans, £33m summer signing Pau Torres could be back for Sunday’s Premier League game against United.

"Pau Torres has started training with the group and he is going to be on the bench tomorrow," said Emery. But Jhon Duran is still injured. “Lucas Digne is progressing very well but he is not available tomorrow," he added.

With Konsa out, Villa are expected to line up with Matty Cash at right-back and either Torres or Clement Lenglet alongside Diego Carlos at the heart of defence. Alex Moreno should continue at left-back given Digne’s absence.

For United, the only players ruled out through injury are Anthony Martial and Lisandro Martinez. It was confirmed on Monday the latter will be out for at least eight weeks following the medial collateral ligament injury he sustained in Sunday’s 3-0 win over West Ham United. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount are closing in on returns to the side.

United go into the game eight points off fourth-place Villa but have improved in recent weeks since the return of several key players from injury. The Red Devils have won four out of five in 2024.