Two key players set to miss huge games after injury update

Unai Emery has confirmed Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings will both miss Aston Villa’s FA Cup fourth round clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Watkins suffered a groin injury in the 2-0 defeat at Wolves and was replaced by Donyell Malen at half-time. The Dutchman could lead the line against Tottenham, while Morgan Rogers or new signing Marcus Rashford could also play the number nine role.

Mings, meanwhile, picked up a knee injury in the 1-1 draw with West Ham a fortnight ago and has missed the last couple of games against Celtic and Wolves as a result.

Matty Cash is sidelined for another two to three weeks with a calf injury, while Ross Barkley and Pau Torres remain out.

“We are going to work tomorrow, but at the beginning, we have out Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, Cash, Ross Barkley and Watkins,” Emery confirmed. “We are working without a game in the week and with the new players to practice and prepare for Sunday.”

Asked about when Watkins could return, Emery explained: “For him, each day is being important how he is feeling. Today he didn’t train and tomorrow he is not going to train as well. Hopefully for the next week, he will be available.”

Villa are looking to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2014-15, when they eventually reached the final before losing 4-0 to Arsenal. They progressed from just one of their last six FA Cup ties against Spurs, winning 1-0 at White Hart Lane in a third round replay after a goalless draw at Villa Park in 1992.

Unai Emery’s side progressed to the fourth round by beating West Ham 2-1 at Villa Park last month. After Lucas Paqueta’s early opener, goals from Rogers and Amadou Onana turned the game around in the space of five second half minutes.

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