Aston Villa manager Unai Emery revealed that Tyrone Mings is in line to make his long-awaited return.
Emery’s side face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon in pursuit of their fifth win of the season with the 18-cap England international in contention.
Emery is set to welcome back two Villa stars from long-term injuriesGetty
The Villans entered the international break with a number of injury concerns, including star centre-back Ezri Konsa who was substituted in the opening minutes of a 0-0 draw against Manchester United.
Skipper John McGinn was another who had been sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury while Jaden Philogene picked up a knock while on international duty with England’s Under-21’s.
However, Emery confirmed in his press conference on Friday he has his entire squad available to him, including long-term absentees Mings and Boubacar Kamara.
“Kamara and Mings are available and will travel with us to Fulham,” Emery said.
“McGinn is training normally with us and he’s feeling good. Konsa as well is feeling good, Jaden is feeling good.
“I think it’s the first time, more or less, everyone is available to play.”
The only exception is Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who has not made any matchday squads this term.
Mings ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and sustained serious knee cartilage damage in Villa’s 5-1 defeat to Newcastle on the opening day last season.
The 31-year-old underwent an intensive rehab program with renowned reconditioning specialist Bill Knowles in Philadelphia before returning to Birmingham.
Mings stepped up his recovery in recent months and played 45 minutes for Villa’s under-21 side against Newcastle earlier in October.
Mings turned out for Villa’s Under-21 side as he stepped up his return to first team actionGetty
He also played for the first team in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Sheffield Wednesday during the international break.
However, Mings faces an uphill battle to break back into the starting line-up as Pau Torres, who plays as the left-sided centre-back, has been in fine form this season.
Kamara is another welcome inclusion for Emery.
The defensive midfielder tore his ACL against Manchester United in February.
Prior to the injury, Kamara had formed a strong midfield partnership alongside Douglas Luiz that had Villa sniffing around top spot midway through last season.
However, Villa’s form suffered amid the absence of Kamara while Luiz was sold to Juventus in the summer to ensure the Midlands club complied with PSR.
Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana have since become Emery’s preferred midfield duo, although the latter missed the United fixture prior to the international break through injury and was replaced by Ross Barkley.