Aston Villa have another fitness concern to manage after Unai Emery confirmed that Matteo Ruggeri suffered a thigh injury during the 2-2 draw against Brentford at Villa Park.
The Italian left-back was unable to continue after the first half and was replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the interval. Emery has indicated that further checks will be needed before the club can establish the extent of the problem and how long Matteo Ruggeri might be unavailable.
The setback comes at an inconvenient time for Villa, who are already without Ian Maatsen following the ankle injury he sustained in last month’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Emery waits for more information on Matteo Ruggeri
Speaking after the Brentford match, Emery confirmed the nature of Matteo Ruggeri problem but stopped short of giving a recovery timeline.
“Matteo Ruggeri has a thigh injury,” the Villa manager said, adding that the club would need to assess the situation the following day.
With Maatsen also sidelined, Villa could face further selection decisions at left-back. Wan-Bissaka filled the position during the second half against Brentford, although Ruggeri’s eventual absence will depend on the outcome of his assessment.
George Hemmings could return against Fenerbahçe
There was more encouraging news concerning George Hemmings, who missed the Brentford game because of a minor knee injury.
Emery suggested that the young player should not be out for long, leaving open the possibility of a return against Fenerbahçe.
The manager’s comments offered a more positive outlook on Hemmings’ situation, although his availability will depend on his recovery.
Emery reflects on Brentford draw
Villa remain without a home victory this season after allowing Brentford to recover from a late deficit.
John McGinn put Emery’s side ahead in the 77th minute, but Kristoffer Ajer equalised shortly afterwards to secure a 2-2 draw for the visitors.
Emery admitted that dropping points at home was disappointing, while also identifying improvements compared with the previous home match against Nottingham Forest.
“Drawing at home is not a good result,” he said.
The Villa manager believed his team had created opportunities but acknowledged that Brentford had also threatened more often than he expected.
He added that the contest could have ended either way, noting that Villa had chances to win but could also have lost.
Villa must manage their fitness concerns
Ruggeri’s injury adds another issue for Emery to assess as Villa look to improve their results at Villa Park. With Maatsen already unavailable, the Italian’s condition could have implications for the manager’s options at left-back.
The club will also monitor Hemmings after his knee problem, with the possibility of a return against Fenerbahçe providing a potential boost.
For now, the priority is to establish the extent of Ruggeri’s injury before determining the next steps.
Aston Villa News BR verdict
Ruggeri’s injury is a concern for Villa, particularly with Maatsen already sidelined. Emery will need to wait for the assessment before knowing whether the Italian faces an extended spell out of action.
The Brentford draw also underlined the fine margins affecting Villa’s start to the home campaign. Emery saw improvements in his team’s performance, but the late equaliser meant those positives were not reflected in the result.
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