Aston Villa

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Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara says he "needed time" after the knee injury which ended his 2025-26 campaign in January, but now he feels "better".

Kamara was sidelined for 206 days after coming off in the ninth minute of the 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory against Tottenham, before returning to action for Unai Emery's side during pre-season.

It was not the first time the 26-year-old has endured an extended period out with a knee problem. Eight months before suffering his most recent injury, he had missed eight months in 2024 following a tear of his ACL.

"I have dealt with this long injury [before]," Kamara told a pre-match news conference for Wednesday's Champions League match against Norwegian side Viking at Villa Park.

"I feel good. I needed time to recover my fitness and the rhythm of training and games, but now I feel better. My recovery after the games is better, so I am happy."

Kamara's importance to Emery's system is underlined by Villa's win percentage last season dropping from 70.59% with him in the starting XI to 33.33% without.

It has been a summer of change at Villa Park but there is no doubt Kamara's return has bought a level of stability and continuity, and he has started all seven games so far - playing the full 90 minutes in all but one.

"It is true there was a lot of change as a lot of players left, but we are happy with the new players because they are fantastic," added Kamara.

"They have been working a lot to understand how the manager wants us to play, so we are happy."

The enforced squad rebuild means Kamara now has a new midfield partner in Joao Gomes, who was signed from Wolves after Youri Tielemans' departure to Manchester United.

"My role hasn't really changed because every midfielder we have knows how the manager wants us to play," explained Kamara.

"With Youri Tielemans and Joao Gomes, it is really the same case, but we need time to get to know each other better."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Viking at Villa Park (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Johan Manzambi will not be available for selection after picking up a "small injury", but Ian Maatsen and George Hemmings have been in first-team training this week.

• Defensive duo Matteo Ruggeri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are facing extended periods on the sidelines after picking up hamstring injuries, with the former being ruled out for "two months" and the latter expected to be out for "three or four weeks".

• On the current injury situation, Emery said: "We have enough players. These injuries are not excuses. We will find the solutions we need to get performances, collectively and individually, in each position."

• He is anticipating a "fantastic game" against Norwegian top-flight side Viking, who "had the capacity to draw with Bayern Munich and compete against Stuttgart" in their opening two Champions League fixtures. However, Aston Villa already having six points on the board is "something amazing" and their "challenge" is to keep up their winning European form.

• Emery said he is expecting an "intense game" against a side that likes to "defend in a high press and get aggressive in duels", adding: "They are very compact in defence and they can hold a low block, so it won't be easy to dominate against them. They also want to play in their opponents' box and they are very strong on set-pieces, so we must be so focused in our task for 90 minutes."

• Aston Villa will look to impose their own gameplan in terms of "positioning, duels and chance creation", while also using the "good energy at Villa Park" to their advantage.

• On Boubacar Kamara's performances since returning from a serious knee injury: "He was so unlucky. He had two very hard injuries which kept him out for a long time. He is still getting his fitness back but I'm expecting to see the best of his qualities, maturity and intelligence again. He is a good professional."

• Lastly, Emery would not be drawn on the reports linking Emi Buendia to a new contract. He reiterated that he is "so happy" with the attacking midfielder, but highlighted his "surprise" at the question.

Hit play above to hear more from Emery or listen on BBC Sounds here

Argentina midfielder Emiliano Buendia, 29, is close to agreeing a new contract with Aston Villa after positive progress in talks. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Nicolas Jackson has scored five times for Aston Villa since his move from Chelsea and said he was lucky to avoid a serious injury when he was caught in the first half by Newcastle's Sven Botman, who was only shown a yellow card despite an over-the-ball challenge.

"I know the referee said yellow card but it was so high and hopefully maybe next time a red card, but it was a yellow," said striker Jackson. "I nearly broke my leg, but anyway, it's part of football. The most important thing is we win and we won, so I'm OK."

Villa entertain Norwegian side Viking in their third Champions League match of the season on Wednesday before hosting a Manchester City side that have won all seven of their Premier League matches this season.

"It was very important after our poor start [to the season] that we needed to try to come back feeling confident, feeling comfortable in how we are building our structure," added head coach Unai Emery.

"The players themselves tried to be demanding to change the situation where we are.

"Through the league we are going to achieve our priority this year, so the league is the competition where we must try to be very consistent."

With seven points from their past three Premier League matches, Villa are a side on the rise again.

Read more on Aston Villa's 1-0 win over Newcastle here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle United fans

Lee: The biggest concern for me is the midfield. We're getting overrun far too easily, and it's leaving the defence constantly exposed. The two-man midfield just isn't giving us enough control or physical presence. Surely it's time to go back to a three and make it harder to play through. Why can the manager not see what we are seeing?

Andy: The next game will tell us everything we need to know about the manager. Does he have the acumen to adopt a system that's not so open? We have regressed from being poor to shocking. Matthias Jaissle is a poor signing, which is not his fault.

Kevin: Not convinced by the manager's tactics. We've gone backwards. The owners also need to take a long hard look at themselves. Replacing key players with kids is not the answer. This is not the vision that PIF sold us.

Samuel: There are no excuses for losing when you have 16 shots in a game and decent possession. The fact that we only managed one shot on target is pretty poor. This performance felt akin to many we saw last season, in which the fundamental ingredients to win were there, but it just didn't happen for us. We had a surprisingly strong start to the season, without the pressure of European football to worry about. I'm not worried yet.

Aston Villa fans

Richard: Villa totally controlled the game against an overly aggressive Newcastle. Only Unai Emery could take a relegation threatened team and transform them into a top six team. To do it once is remarkable, but to then lose several key players and do it again is outstanding. Emery improves virtually every player in the squad. It's the best time to be a Villa supporter in the 55 years I have followed them and long may it last.

Matthew: A very solid performance. Tough physical test against a Newcastle team that has chosen brawn over brains due to losing its best players. How good would this Villa side be with Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa in it? Emery once again playing the perfect game.

Robert: We look better every game and there's every reason to believe we'll carry on improving. I hope Taylor Harwood-Bellis gets up to speed soon as our backline will need to be stronger against the top teams.

Blaine: Massive defensive stance from the boys. This team might not be perfect but that was the best defensive display from Villa in a long while. Zion Suzuki playing almost lights-out football. This team is really starting to come together. Man City will be the truest test to see if we're ready to say "we're just as good as you".

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Johan Manzambi saw first hand how good Aston Villa were last season and is now playing a crucial part in Unai Emery's rebuild in this campaign.

Switzerland midfielder Manzambi, who turned 21 on Wednesday, scored his third goal in Villa colours with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Newcastle - the club he turned down before moving to Villa Park in the summer.

Manzambi played a crucial role in helping Freiburg reach the Europa League final, before the Germans were comprehensively beaten by a Villa side that scored three times in the opening hour on their way to a 3-0 success.

Among players in the Bundesliga in his position last season, Manzambi ranked first for progressive carries of 10 metres or more (116), shot-ending carries (13) and fouls won (78).

He then impressed in the World Cup, scoring twice in the 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, getting a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory over co-hosts Canada and also registering an assist in the 2-0 success over Algeria.

Unfortunately for Manzambi and Switzerland, a knee injury ruled him out of the last-16 penalty shootout win over Colombia and their quarter-final loss to Argentina.

So impressive were his performances last season, that Manzambi finds himself on a 10-man list for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world's best player aged under 21.

Also on the shortlist are Spain World Cup winners Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, along with Yan Diomande - whose performances earned him a move to Real Madrid, with the winner named on 26 October.

Since his first start for Aston Villa on 19 September against Spurs, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland - with six - has been involved in more goals among Premier League players in all competitions than Manzambi's five (three goals, two assists).

Read more on Manzambi and Aston Villa's 1-0 performance here

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to BBC Match of The Day: "Very tough and, for us, it was very important after our poor start [to the season] we need to try to come back feeling confident, feeling comfortable with how we are building our structure.

"The players themselves tried to be demanding to change the situation where we are. How we achieved three points at Tottenham after the draw we had last week with Brentford. Today was very, very important. We focused on this match in meetings before as well.

"Of course, we're happy with the match we played in the Champions League, but the league is the priority because through the league we are going to achieve our priority this years, so the league is the competition where we must try to be very consistent.

"Clean sheet on Wednesday, clean sheet today. I think this is one thing we are speaking and wanting to improve."

On Johan Manzambi: "Skills and intelligence, both he has, and his physicality is very important as well to help us defensively and to help us try to keep the duels offensively.

"So happy. Of course, another goal he has scored. Fantastic for him as well. Then he was a bit tired and maybe something muscular, hopefully not much. He has been a very good impact with his qualities and his wish to join us in the same challenges and performances in the last three or four years, playing as well consistency in the Premier League in the top positions as well in Europe."

Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson, speaking to BBC Match of The Day on the win: "It was good. We know this is a difficult place to come and play but thank God we got the win. We got the three points - that's the most important [thing] for us."

On Johan Manzambi: "He's an amazing player. He's still growing. Hopefully he can be better and better every game, score goals and assist me as well. Hopefully we will work together and achieve many things together."

On how far Manzambi can go in the game: "He will go a long way and hopefully he gets no injuries. For sure, if he is OK, and he is training hard, he will go a long way and many more goals and assists - for me - to come."

On whether Villa are where they want to be: "We are not where we want to be because we lost some points, but the most important [thing] is in the past, forget this game as well, focus on the next. Go game by game and we will see where we go."

Did you know?

• Aston Villa have won successive Premier League away games for the first time since December 2025 (run of four); they'd previously won just two of their 12 away games prior to the Spurs victory (D5 L5).

• Since his first start for Aston Villa (19th September v Tottenham Hotspur), only Erling Haaland (6) has been involved in more goals among Premier League players in all competitions than Johan Manzambi (5 – 3 goals, 2 assists).

Listen to more from Emery on BBC Sounds and you can also listen to Tyrone Mings' reaction below or on BBC Sounds

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The victory helped Aston Villa boss Unai Emery reach a landmark as it was his 100th in the Premier League.

The Spaniard would have been delighted with his side's performance, especially as they had two days fewer than their opponents to prepare for this match, having played in the Champions League on Wednesday.

For the first time this season club captain John McGinn did not start a league match, although the Scotland midfielder did come on at the beginning of the second half.

Villa already had the lead by then, after being the better team in the first 45 minutes.

As well as the Johan Manzambi goal and the Emiliano Buendia effort off the woodwork, Nicolas Jackson also had an effort saved by Lukas Hornicek, with Matty Cash later hitting the side-netting.

Manzambi, who turned 21 on Wednesday, has now scored three goals for Villa since joining Emery's side in a club record deal of just over £50m from German side Freiburg.

Villa had opportunities to score a second goal, but substitute Ross Barkley drew a fine save from Hornicek and Ibrahim Mbaye shot wide after a fine run.

But they produced a strong defensive performance to restrict the hosts to one shot on target, to leave the north east with the three points.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Chelsea (12:30)

• Brentford v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Hull City

• Manchester City v Ipswich Town - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Newcastle United v Aston Villa (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Brentford v Liverpool" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Ipswich match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

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Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

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This has the makings of a great game.

Newcastle's defeat at Coventry on Monday was such a wild game. The way the Magpies play, they just go for it, and load players into the frontline.

They lost 4-1 in the end but the scoreline could have been anything with the number of chances Newcastle had.

Aston Villa have made a slow start to the Premier League season results-wise, but I think they have done all right, bearing in mind what their manager Unai Emery has had to deal with in terms of the players they lost.

Johan Manzambi is getting fitter every game and Nicolas Jackson has found some great form.

It takes time for a team to come together but I thought they were really good against Brentford last weekend - they just weren't ruthless enough.

That wasn't a problem against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, though.

This is a really hard one to call and the only thing I know for certain is that there will be a few goals.

Sutton's prediction: 2-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle aim to continue their unbeaten start at home against an Aston Villa team who have won their past three away matches in all competitions.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into their meeting at St James' Park on Saturday.

"Not good enough in both boxes," was how head coach Matthias Jaissle described Newcastle's disappointing loss at Coventry City on Monday, but it is perhaps his side's defensive issues that deserve the greatest attention.

Defeat by the Sky Blues was the second successive away game in which Newcastle have conceded four goals, following the 4-1 loss at Leeds United in September.

The Magpies have conceded 13 Premier League goals this season, their third-most in their first six matches, after 1999-00 (18) and 2021-22 (14). They went on to finish in 11th place in both of those campaigns.

And while their may be a degree of reassurance in returning to St James' Park, where they are unbeaten so far this season, to take on Aston Villa, vulnerability has also been a recurrent theme on home turf prior to Jaissle's arrival.

Newcastle have gone 12 consecutive Premier League games without a home clean sheet, their longest such sequence in 27 years.

The positive for home supporters is that this weekend's visitors are suffering from their own surfeit of defensive lapses.

Villa have conceded 11 goals in six Premier League games this season, their most at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1986-87, when they eventually finished bottom.

Unai Emery's side, though, have improved in recent weeks, with the 6-0 win over Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday extending their unbeaten run to four matches.

They also won for the first time away from home in the Premier League this season during their most recent outing at Tottenham, when midfielder John Manzambi scored his first goal for the club since joining from Freiburg in a club record £51.2m in the summer.

Manzambi also scored in Europe in midweek and there would be no small sense of irony should he add to that tally on Tyneside on Saturday. Newcastle reportedly agreed a fee for the 21-year-old Switzerland international before he opted to join Villa as Morgan Rogers' replacement in July.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle at St James' Park (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery confirmed he will decide on his starting XI after training on Friday afternoon, because some players "might be tired" after Wednesday's Champions League win and he needs his side "to be 100% not 80%" to face Newcastle.

• He took former Wales international and manager John Toshack's reference "don't avoid the trees that are not permitting you to see the Forest" when describing the 6-0 win over Fenerbahce. The Villa boss went on to say they "won a fantastic match, but have a lot of things to improve to make us as strong as possible."

• On a difficult start, but a convincing European win: "The players are doing a huge effort each match to try to do our demands. We are really improving. We are building the team in the same way we did it three, two and one years ago. The results are [be]coming better."

• He said 21-year-old Johan Manzambi is "more or less similar" to former Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, but "with his own characteristics as a player".

• More on Manzambi: "He's doing things very positive for the team. He can drive and get the ball. He is getting assists and scoring goals. He is mature, likes football, responsible and a very good example of the mentality that we need."

• On opponents Newcastle: "At their home it is always very difficult. The supporters are always pushing them. They will be very demanding in how they try to beat us. We must be ready to compete and defend strongly. Be compact and [every player] focused on his task. We need the bench ready to play in case we need fresh legs. It's a huge challenge."

Listen to live commentary of Newcastle v Aston Villa on BBC Radio 5 Live from 17:30 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Aston Villa are well placed to beat Manchester United to Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay if the 29-year-old Scotland international becomes available. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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"Aston Villa just need to translate their Champions League form to the Premier League now," says former Premier League midfielder Charlie Adam, who watched on as Unai Emery's side hit six goals past Fenerbahce at Villa Park.

Their first home win of the 2026-27 season saw them move one step closer to qualifying for the knockout stage, having already beaten Club Brugge 3-2 in their Champions League opener.

"Unai Emery is one of the best coaches in Europe," Adam told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He prepares his team so well, he is tactically very good, he understands what he is playing against, and he gives his players a good platform to build on.

"He hasn't complained about all the players the club sold this summer, he has just got on with his job this season.

"Nicolas Jackson was a very good signing, Johan Manzambi has stepped up, John McGinn has been an absolute world-beater since he signed - and when they have their forward line scoring goals. They have a really good balance in their team.

"Ross Barkley can also dominate in terms of receiving under pressure and enjoying playing forward. Boubacar Kamara is a really good defensive midfielder who gives you that security.

"Emery has chopped and changed his defensive line a little bit more, but he has still relied on players like Victor Lindelof.

"I thought Emiliano Martinez would be a huge loss for them this season, but the new goalkeeper Zion Suzuki has come in and done really well.

"For me, Aston Villa just need to translate their Champions League form to the Premier League now."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Ross Barkley has hailed Unai Emery as one of the world's best managers after Aston Villa demolished Fenerbahce.

The midfielder scored twice, including a penalty, in the second half to help Villa beat their Turkish hosts 6-0 in the Champions League.

Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson's double put Villa 3-0 up at half-time, before Barkley and Tammy Abraham completed the rout on Wednesday.

It was Villa's first home win of the season and after a summer of upheaval, including six key exits and 10 arrivals, Barkley sees things coming together - thanks to Emery.

"As the weeks go by, everyone is growing, but it's led by the manager. He's one of the best managers in the world and, with time, everyone learns and improves. It's exciting," said the 32-year-old.

"Once you grasp it, the game becomes easy for you if you're on it on gameday. The game comes together."

It was Barkley's sixth start of the season, having only made eight in 2025-26, and the former Everton youngster is relishing his revival.

Barkley added: "I love being a part of the club. It's a great club, a great team, it's fantastic. My role is to be ready when I come off the bench or when I start.

"When I come on the pitch I've got to do what I can do. If I don't perform at my best, the next game I've got to come through and lead and perform better.

"There's always competition for places in our team. We've got four or five central midfielders, so it's just about being ready."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nicolas Jackson celebrated his first-half double by making a cutting motion, which proved fitting on a night Aston Villa found their clinical edge.

A first win at Villa Park this season, three first-half goals and six in total, and a commanding Champions League victory - all in the biggest European win in their history.

Questions had been building after Villa picked up just one point from their opening three Premier League home games this season, even if Saturday's 2-2 draw with Brentford ensured they avoided a third-straight home league defeat under Unai Emery for the first time since February 2024.

They found a willing opponent in Fenerbahce, who were scattered with former Premier League players, including Ederson, Nathan Ake, Romelu Lukaku and Nelson Semedo.

Villa had last scored so many in a 6-1 win over Brighton three years ago, while they had put five goals past Hibernian in the Conference League in 2023.

That result provided another springboard and extended the side's recent form to just one defeat in seven games. However, Emery's rebuild will still take time.

Before the international break, he compared the opening five weeks of the season to pre-season, with 10 new players to adapt following a chaotic summer of change.

Record £65m signing Jackson came in to replace Ollie Watkins after his £50m switch to Al-Hilal. He joined having helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga last season on loan from Chelsea, and on moving to Villa Park he was reunited with Emery.

The pair had worked together at Villarreal, with Emery giving him his debut, and the 25-year-old has quickly repaid the faith on their reunion.

The only thing missing for Jackson was a potential hat-trick, with Ross Barkley - the pre-arranged penalty taker - scoring from the spot.

"I wanted to take it but the most important thing is that we won," Jackson told TNT Sports. "Hopefully next time I will get the hat-trick."

Jackson's four goals in three games and five goals in total this season have helped the club quickly move on from their record Premier League scorer Watkins.

Emery added: "Jackson is doing a fantastic job. He is scoring, working defensively and helping the team - this is very important. Maybe he can shoot [from the spot] in the future, as well."

The new-look forward line will now be eager for Saturday's trip to Newcastle, especially as Matthias Jaissle's side shipped four against Coventry on Monday to leave them with the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League.

Read the full article here