Aston Villa suffer ‘massive’ blow to Champions League hopes as Boubacar Kamara update emerges
Aston Villa have suffered a huge blow to their Champions League hopes this season after Boubacar Kamara’s season came to an end against Manchester United, according to Alan Hutton.
The Frenchman was substituted after 65 minutes at Villa Park on Sunday (11 February) as Unai Emery’s side lost 2-1 to the Red Devils, having gone to ground after twisting his knee while trying to win back possession midway through the second half.
Villa have since confirmed that the 24-year-old had suffered a knee ligament injury which David Ornstein has suggested (12 February) could see him miss the remainder of the campaign as Emery’s side continues their push for the Premier League’s top four.
While Kamara has flown slightly under the radar so far this term, Hutton believes his absence could be “huge” for the remainder of the season, but also admitted it does open a door for another player to step up alongside Douglas Luiz.
“I think it is a huge blow,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s a massive part of what Villa do in terms of build-up from the back, breaking up play and getting the ball moving forward. He’s got a good relationship with Douglas Luiz in that midfield so it’s a huge blow.
“I think through the time that he’s been at the club he’s only been getting stronger as he just goes about his business. A lot of the headlines are with other players but he just gets on with the job at hand and he does it very well.
“Of course, it is a huge blow but that being said, there is now an opportunity for somebody else.”
Aston Villa Champions League hopes dented by Boubacar Kamara
As Hutton has suggested, the likes of Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz have been the focus of most pundits’ praise so far this season, with the important work of Kamara going relatively unnoticed at the heart of Villa’s midfield, especially in recent weeks.
The Frenchman has started 20 of the Villans’ 24 Premier League games this term, with the majority of those missed through suspension. When Kamara is fit, he almost always starts for Emery domestically and has been key to Villa’s superb start to the season.
It will be interesting to see how Emery copes without the 24-year-old against Fulham on Saturday (17 February) but Kamara’s absence is likely to see the Spaniard reshuffle his pack as they look for a return to winning ways in the Premier League.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton believes one Vill ace faces a “difficult” battle to break into Emery’s side after Leon Bailey’s contract extension
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