UNAI: WE KNEED TIM TO STEP UP
Emery wants kid Iroegbunam to fill in as Villa lose third player to ACL injury
UNAI EMERY claims Aston Villa’s injury crisis is the worst he has known – but urged Tim Iroegbunam to take advantage of it.
Villa were reeling this week from their third anterior cruciate ligament injury after Boubacar Kamara was ruled out for at least eight months after damaging the tendons during the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia suffered the same ACL injury before being ruled out for the campaign last August.
Emery said: “I’ve never had this situation before as a coach. I can never remember a time like this.
“It’s not an excuse. I know
Real Madrid have had the same situation with ACL injuries, with David Alaba,
Eder Militao and Thibaut
Courtois.
“I always accept injuries but this is the worst.
“There is some work you can do with injury prevention on hamstrings
– but knee injuries are different. These are not a consequence of our work.
“I had the injury myself when I was 20. It was difficult for my career. I know how it is. But we have to accept it and keep going.”
Emery has maintained Villa’s push despite losing several key players to injury – he is without three centre-halves today – but he said that when one door closes another one has opened. And that’s certainly the case for 20-yearold midfielder
Iroegbunam (left). The Spaniard (right) added: “Tim was sent out on loan last season, trying to play minutes to take confidence and build his experience. “I decided to keep him in January, allowing Leander Dendoncker to leave.
“But he has to be ready.
“He has to say, ‘This is my time, I am here’. I don’t know if he is going to do it.
“But I’m positive with him,
I believe in him.
“Maybe he will need more than one match
– maybe two, three or four.
“He has to do it quickly.
“When we are speaking about my responsibility to decide with him, to give them chances, then it’s their responsibility – but they have to be ready.
“Yes, football is nice and we are privileged.
“The players, we have to help them, to give them chances, but they have to play.”
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