Aston Villa are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of key midfielder Amadou Onana ahead of their Europa League semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Belgian international missed Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday, raising fresh doubts over his availability for one of the biggest matches of their season. With a place in a European final on the line, manager Unai Emery admitted he is still unsure whether the midfielder will recover in time.
Emery uncertain over Onana’s availability
Speaking ahead of the semi-final, Emery revealed that Onana’s condition remains unclear and will depend on his day-to-day recovery progress.
“I don’t know if he will be available for Thursday,” Emery said. “It’s about how every day he is progressing. I don’t know if he will be ready for tomorrow, Thursday or even next Sunday.”
The Villa boss confirmed that Ross Barkley will definitely miss out due to being ineligible for the competition squad, but Onana remains a genuine doubt rather than a confirmed absentee.
“He was not feeling good yesterday,” Emery added. “He had some small pain.”
Big blow if midfielder misses out
Onana has been a crucial figure for Villa this season, starting their last nine Premier League matches as well as all of their Europa League knockout fixtures so far. His physical presence and control in midfield have been central to Emery’s tactical setup, particularly in high-intensity European matches.
If he is ruled out, it would represent a significant boost for Nottingham Forest, who are preparing for one of the most important games in their recent history.
Forest also dealing with defensive concerns
Forest are not without their own injury worries, however. Defender Jair Cunha was forced off with an arm issue during their win over Sunderland, while Murillo is already expected to miss the semi-final.
That leaves manager Nuno Espírito Santo potentially short of options at the back, with Morato and Zach Abbott among the candidates to partner Nikola Milenković in defence.
Historic night at the City Ground
Thursday’s clash carries major significance for both clubs. Nottingham Forest are set to play in their first European semi-final in 42 years, while Aston Villa are chasing their first major European final in over four decades.
The winner of the two-legged tie will book a place in Istanbul, where they will face either Freiburg or Sporting Braga in the final.
With both sides dealing with key injuries and everything on the line, the stage is set for a tense and potentially decisive night at the City Ground.
