Aston Villa handed injury blow after forward returns from international duty injured
Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traore returned to Bodymoor Heath injured after representing Burkina Faso during the November international break.
The forward will spend a period time on the sidelines as Villa head into their busiest period of the season yet. Unai Emery’s side have already played 19 games in all competitions this campaign, but will now face another ten matches in 35 days before the New Year.
Traore has only made two Premier League appearances this season, amounting to ten minutes of action off the bench in Villa’s wins over Burnley and Luton Town. He has played another 12 minutes across three Europa Conference League group stage matches.
Traore was recalled last January from a loan spell at Istanbul Basaksehir after Villa opted not to spend money on a winger during the winter window. The 28-year-old played his part in the club’s push for the top seven by scoring a dramatic winner over Leicester City at the King Power, and then the opening goal against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.
Ahead of Villa’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday, Villa will assess the fitness of Emi Martinez, Leon Bailey and Nicolo Zaniolo. Emery is hopeful all three will be fit to play, while John McGinn has trained after picking up a knock in Scotland’s 3-3 draw with Norway last Sunday.
Villa would leapfrog Tottenham in the table and move into the top four with a win, which would be their third of the season away from home. Emery’s side have struggled for form on the road so far this season after losing three of their opening six away league matches.
