Ross Barkley update emerges as Doctor reacts to Aston Villa injury developments
Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley is ruled out with a Grade 2 calf injury, according to Dr Rajpal Brar.
The injury expert claims that such setbacks are notoriously sensitive, which is why the club will have to carefully handle his return to first-team football.
The 31-year-old has been ruled out for nearly two months with his last appearance coming in the 2-1 win against West Ham on 10 January.
Villa unlikely to call upon Ross Barkley for another month
While the former Everton and Chelsea midfielder may be closing in on his first-team return, he still seems to be some way from being at 100 per cent.
It’s understood that he will not be ready to play 90 minutes regularly for another month.
He’s also yet to make his first-team return and he may be back in time for the game against Club Brugge on 4 March.
Speaking about this situation, Dr Brar, a doctor in physical therapy and a sports scientist, told Villa News: “He has been out for nearly two months dealing with a calf injury, which is notoriously sensitive.
“So his runway to playing 90 minutes will be stretched out a bit.
“Hard to say just how long but the club will likely be very methodical with his minutes and monitoring his response.
“He appears to have a Grade 2 injury and he’s unlikely to play 90 minutes regularly for another month.“
Unai Emery must strive to get the best of Ross Barkley
Unai Emery will look to maximise Barkley’s impact post-injury methodically as emphasised by Dr Brar, by leveraging his versatility and experience within a tailored tactical setup.
The 31-year-old midfielder brings Premier League nous and a knack for breaking lines, as shown in his Luton stint last season.
| Premier League stats 2024/25 | Ross Barkley |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Starts | 3 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 1 |
Emery should deploy Barkley in a hybrid No. 8 role within his preferred 4-2-3-1, allowing him to link midfield and attack while easing physical demands during recovery.
Pairing him with a defensively solid partner like Youri Tielemans would free Barkley to exploit his passing range and late box arrivals – key traits Emery values.
He’s proven to be a useful option off the bench and the Spaniard could arguably bring the best out of him.