Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans sidelined for 8-10 weeks

Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks to deepen their midfield injury crisis.

The Belgium international, 28, came off in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Newcastle with an ankle injury and checks have confirmed he is unlikely to return until April.

He is the latest key midfielder for the side currently lying third in the Premier League to suffer a serious injury in recent weeks. John McGinn has been sidelined for two months and Boubacar Kamara is out for the season, both with knee injuries.

Villa are close to signing their former midfielder Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus to add cover.

«Tielemans is eight to 10 weeks out,» said manager Unai Emery on Wednesday. «Kamara is not going to play this season. McGinn is six to eight weeks out.

«After those updates of those players we need to manage the centre midfield in the matches we are going to play.»

Emery described the move for Luiz, who played for Villa between 2019 and 2024, as «close» with his loan at Nottingham Forest set to be cancelled.

Kamara has also had surgery on his injured knee, having come off in the FA Cup win over Tottenham earlier this month.

«Kamara, he had surgery. He had it and he’s going to be out for the rest of the season,» Emery added.

Another midfielder, Ross Barkley, who last played in November, is «coming back in a few days,» Emery said. Defender Andres Garcia is also set to be out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Tammy Abraham joined Villa in an £18.5m deal on Tuesday and winger Leon Bailey has returned after spending the first half of the season on loan at Roma, while forward Donyell Malen signed for Roma earlier in the window.

Villa host Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday in the Europa League at Villa Park having already qualified for the knockout stage.

Yet, despite the injury problems, Harvey Elliott’s situation at Villa has not changed.

Villa do not want to pay the additional £30m to make his move from Liverpool permanent but he will automatically move if he makes 10 appearances.

The midfielder has played five times since his summer loan from Anfield but has not featured since October, although was on the bench against Newcastle.

«There are five days to finish the window. Everything we said before, only injuries can change it. Like Luiz [he] is a player joining us because of central midfield injuries,» Emery said.

«With Harvey, it is not changing. We have our idea. I spoke with Harvey clearly. I said before that he is a fantastic guy.

«He was on the bench against Newcastle on Sunday and was there if we needed help from him, he was ready to play.

«Tomorrow he is in the squad as well but it is not changing the situation he has now.»