Unai Emery confirmed five of his players would remain sidelined through injury this weekend, as Aston Villa host Tottenham Hotspur in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The Villa manager met with the local and national media in his pre-match press conference at Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon, before Sunday’s clash at Villa Park (ko 5.35pm).
Emery revealed that – in addition to Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Ross Barkley and Tyrone Mings still being out – Ollie Watkins would also be unavailable, the striker withdrawn at half-time of last weekend’s defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“We are going to work tomorrow, but at the beginning, we have out, not available for Sunday, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, Cash, Ross Barkley and Watkins,” said the Spaniard.
Speaking specifically on Watkins, he added: “For him, each day is being important, how he is feeling, but for Sunday, I think he is not going to be available because today he didn’t train.
“Tomorrow, I think he is not going to train as well, because he will need more days to recover.
“Hopefully, for next week, he will be available.”
Axel Disasi will also miss the tie, having already represented parent club Chelsea in the FA Cup this season, meaning there is the potential for two Villa debuts, after Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio arrived on loan in the closing days of the transfer window.
Emery discussed the fitness of the rest of the side, and how he hopes a week without a midweek fixture will have given them more time to both rest and prepare ahead of the clash.
The Villa boss added: “Other players, more or less, hopefully [will be available], because this week we are working like not usual, with the days like we had, not playing during the week.
“We are working and, of course, as well, with the new players, trying to practice and to prepare for Sunday.
“We have time to take, even tomorrow as well, and some players today, we did a little bit less than yesterday, and before yesterday.
“Tomorrow, again, we are going to check everybody, in case we are feeling good, every player for Sunday.”
