Cash, McGinn & Tielemans: Latest Aston Villa injury news and expected return dates

Aston Villa will be looking for a first win in five matches when they take on LOSC Lille in the Europa League on Thursday evening – but Unai Emery’s hopes of turning a recent run of bad form around are likely to be dented by injury issues.

Full-back Matty Cash is the latest player to be added to the injury list after he was forced off at half-time during the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea last week – while John McGinn is battling to make a comeback from a knee injury which has sidelined him since January. In total, Villa have six first-team players who are either out or doubts for the game against Lille this week.

With kick-off not far away, we’ve collected all of the latest Aston Villa injury news below, along with the absent players’ expected return dates when available.

Is Matty Cash injured for Aston Villa?

Poland international Matty Cash was withdrawn from the game during the break against Chelsea last Wednesday after complaining about pain in his calf – but the early indications are that he won’t miss a significant amount of time.

The Express & Star report that initial scans have revealed no major damage, and suggest that “there is a chance” that Cash could be available for the last 16 tie against Lille – although that is not yet confirmed, with Villa unlikely to take any unnecessary risks with one of their most in-form players as they battle for a place in the Premier League’s top four.

Emery has yet to comment publicly on the likelihood that Cash plays this week and as such, he remains a doubt, but should be able to play a full part in the run-in. Young utility man Lamare Bogarde, who came on for Cash against Chelsea, could well deputise again on Thursday.

When will John McGinn & Youri Tielemans be back?

Another key player who seems likely to miss out this week is all-action midfielder John McGinn, who continues his recovery from knee surgery which was necessitated by an injury picked up during the 1-0 defeat to Everton in January.

Ahead of the game against Chelsea, the Scotsman told reporters that “the recovering is going well… I’m feeling ready to get back in, and in good shape,” but further clarified that he would be back in “maybe another two or three weeks,” suggesting that the most optimistic return date for him is the second leg match against Lille on 19 March. He looks likely to miss out this week against both Lille and Manchester United on Sunday.

Harvey Elliott could also be absent on Thursday as he continues his recovery from an undisclosed injury, the extent of which has not been made public – his return date is currently unknown, although his current situation means that he is unlikely to be heavily involved between now and the end of season either way.

Among those who won’t be fit to feature are Youri Tielemans (ankle) and Andrès Garcia (hamstring), both of whom are expected back in mid-April after the next international break, and Boubacar Kamara (knee), who has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.