16 February 2024 , 17:20
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Unai Emery said Aston Villa’s injury crisis is the worst he’s ever known - yet urged Tim Iroegbunam to take advantage of it.
Villa were reeling this week from the 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. That followed on from similar problems suffered when Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia were ruled out for the campaign last August.
“I’ve never had this situation before as a coach. I can never remember a time like this," Emery said. "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. We have to accept it and keep going.
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Emery has maintained Villa’s push despite losing several key players to injury - he is without three centre-halves for the clash against Fulham - but said that while one door closes another one has opened. And that’s certainly the case for 20-year-old midfielder Iroegbunam.
The Spaniard 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.
Emery has urged Tim Iroegbunam to take his chance amid Villa's injury crisis (Getty Images)“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.”
On Kamara, Emery added: “We have had two injured all season - Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia - now it’s the same with Boubacar.
"It’s an ACL. He’s out for the rest of the season. More or less it could be September or October when he comes back.”
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