The latest injury and team news ahead of Aston Villa’s UEFA Europa Conference League match against AZ Alkmaar.
Aston Villa host AZ Alkmaar at Villa Park on Thursday (November 9) in a crucial stage of their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign.
Unai Emery’s team needs to respond to their shocking defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and fortunately, Thursday is an opportunity to do so. Villa are second in their Conference League group, with a chance to go first if they win and Legia Warszawa drops any points to Zrinjski.
Last time out, Villa defeated the Dutch side 4-1, with goals from Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, and John McGinnn all coming just before the hour mark. Ibrahim Sadiq scored a consolation goal in the 65th minute, but Villa will be confident after their last meeting.
Here’s the latest injury and team news from both the Aston Villa and AZ Alkmaar camps ahead of Thursday’s match.
Team news from Aston Villa
Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings have been absent for a long time. Buendia suffered a’serious’ knee injury in training and is expected to miss the 2023/24 season, as is Mings, who was stretchered off during the season opener against Newcastle United. Jacob Ramsey is out with a foot injury and will not be able to return until after the international break. “Jacob is working individually and getting better,” Unai Emery said, “but not for the next two weeks before the [international] break.” I don’t think he’ll be available.”
Meanwhile, Matty Cash suffered a shoulder injury in the defeat to Nottingham Forest, and Jhon Duran has an infected toe that has kept him out of the last few games.
News from the AZ Alkmaar team
Sem Westerveld of AZ Alkmaar has been out with a meniscus injury since July. The custodian has yet to appear in a competitive match for the club, but he was a substitute in their previous Europa Conference League campaign.
Mees de Wit is also injured, having been sidelined since mid-September with a foot injury. The 25-year-old has only played 45 minutes this season, which came in a second round qualifier against Brann and then as an unused sub against Vitesse in early September. Mayckel Lahdo is suspended for a second game after receiving a red card against Zrinjski. Given his three goals and two assists in ten Eredivisie games, his absence is a blow.
The one to watch is Vangelis Pavlidis who was named the Player of the Month for October after scoring in ten consecutive matches for AZ. He scored five league goals last month and his tally is now 14 in nine games, averging 1.48 gols per 90.
Alkmaar in their last match drew 1-1 with Excelsior. Lahdo scored in the 72nd minute but in the first minute of stoppage time AZ conceded, and had to accept a point on the road.
AZ Alkmaar’s last XI: Ryan, Wolfe, Martins Indi (Penetra 65), Bazoer, Sugawara, Mijnans, Clasie, van Brederod (van Bommel 87), De Wit (Dantas, 65), Odgaard (Lahdo, 65) (Sadiq, 87), Pavlidis.
