EMERY: MCGINN AND TORRES FIGHTING FIT

UNAI EMERY has given Aston Villa a major boost by declaring Pau Torres and John Mcginn fit for tomorrow’s blockbuster against Tottenham.

The Villa boss conducted a roll call at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training base as they returned to training following their Europa Conference League exploits in Holland.

Emery sparked concern by taking off Torres (below) midway through the goalless stalemate against Ajax in Amsterdam. He didn’t start Mcginn (above), either, revealing afterwards the Scotland international had a small issue – a fact also confirmed by the midfielder.

And there may be better news on the horizon, too. Jacob Ramsey will undergo a fitness test today to see if he can face Ange Postecoglou’s men.

Victory for Villa will establish an eight-point gap over the north Londoners, who do have one game in hand.

Emery said: “We did a recovery training session with the players who played against Ajax.

“Mcginn and Torres will be available.

“We will have our last training session of the week

Saturday and wait and see how Jacob is.”

Emery billed

Manchester United’s visit last month as “a six-pointer” and used similar language again as he struggled to contain his excitement ahead of the game.

He said: “When you want to get to a higher level as a club, you have to understand there will be a lot of matches.

“And there is no doubt we are in a key moment of the season.

“This will be an amazing match.

“We’re now at date 28 in the Premier League season and we are involved in the top five positions.

“We’re facing Tottenham. They are also having a good season.

“For them, too, it is a key moment.

“We have to play more matches but now, for both teams, we are playing for three or six points.

“It’s a great time for me. I’m very excited and happy. We are waiting for these moments.”

Emery hailed his Australian counterpart’s impact and revealed Villa are working on ways to combat Spurs’ renowned high defensive line when the two come face-toface.

He said: “Ange Postecoglou’s impact has been fantastic.

“I’ve been trying to analyse and understand tactically how they have been successful and improved.

“Maybe they go man-to-man and hold a high line, we have been asking where do their players go.

“It’s going to be a challenge as to how we stop them.

But we want to show our personality, too.”