Aston Villa: Ty Bracey reacts as injury news emerges on Jhon Duran at Villa Park
Jhon Duran is going to be a “miss” for Aston Villa, according to Ty Bracey, as the striker could be sidelined up until April with a hamstring injury.
Speaking to BirminghamLive on 30 January, Unai Emery revealed that the Colombian international is set to miss between six and eight weeks.
The Villa boss added that the 20-year-old forward, who was linked with a move away from Villa Park in January, could return to action once his side pick up their Europa Conference League campaign later in the season.
Bracey believes it’s “not ideal” for the Villans, but that attacking players Moussa Diaby, Leon Bailey and new signing Morgan Rogers could fill in for the second-choice striker while he’s sidelined.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey said: “We know Diaby can play there if needed, the same with Bailey and I would probably assume Rogers as well is capable of filling in there if needed, playing just that little bit higher up the pitch.
“Obviously, he’s the number-two striker, but we can’t do anything about him being out. I think we’ll be fine for the rest of the season.
“It is a miss because it means we have to take players from other positions to fill that void as a backup.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s nothing to worry about in my opinion.”
Aston Villa have other attacking options
It’s always a risk just having two senior strikers, but Emery will be confident that the players Bracey mentions can fill the gap left by Duran to share the load with Ollie Watkins.
The forward has been a slightly controversial figure at Villa Park this season after there had been reports that he had fallen out with the Villa boss about his playing time.
But the Colombian did feature a fair amount in the first half of the campaign, having scored four goals in 23 appearances before being sidelined through injury.
In other Aston Villa news, Unai Emery may have contacted his former club after a Villa player exit has been confirmed.
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