ZHAKEAston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is expected to be sidelined for at least a fortnight through injury, ruling him out of four important matches.
The Frenchman, who has been utilised by Unai Emery as a centre-half throughout recent fixtures due to a shortage of defenders, won’t be available to face Liverpool, Chelsea or Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He’s also a major doubt for the hosting of Cardiff City in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round.
Kamara hobbled off in the 16th minute of the 1-1 home draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday and was replaced by Tyrone Mings, who was only just returning from an injury of his own. The Athletic reports Kamara has since been assessed for a muscular issue and will be out for a minimum of two weeks while he recovers.
“I know people in charge are not concerned by our complaints, but they must not forget the players are human beings. They need some rest and a rational schedule. There is nobody that can face with energy and safety, four matches in 10 days.”
That time frame gives an expected return date of Saturday, March 1 –j ust after the FA Cup game against Cardiff. The following weekend, Villa travel away to Brentford in the Premier League with the yet-to-be-arranged UEFA Champions League last 16 ties set to be played in the midweeks either side.
It’s a far from ideal time for Kamara to be injured as Villa’s upcoming fixture schedule has been arranged in a rather ridiculous manner. The clash with Liverpool being brought forward from March 15 to this Wednesday (February 19) means Villa will play just one Premier League game this month but four in the space of merely 10 days to round off February.
Addressing the subject in his pre-Ipswich programme notes, Emery said: “When we thought we earned the right on the pitch to have two weeks with no midweek games (by skipping the Champions League play-off round), suddenly and with short notice the authorities advanced the Liverpool match. A match that could be perfectly pushed back in the season.
Qudus Salihu
ZHAKE
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