Credit: Imago/Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Richie Mills

Wed 15 April 2026 11:10, UK

Boubacar Kamara might be the most influential figure in the Premier League as Aston Villa continue to miss their midfield maestro.

Before Kamara’s season-ending knee injury in January, Villa were in the Premier League title race with Arsenal and Manchester City.

The 26-year-old played a key role in Villa’s remarkable 11-match winning run at the tail end of 2025 and since his injury, Kamara has been a notable absentee.

Villa also struggled without teammates John McGinn and Youri Tielemans in the first few months of 2026 but they are looking somewhat revitalised after their respective returns to action.

Ahead of Villa facing Bologna in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, figures have revealed how important Kamara has been to Unai Emery‘s side.

Aston Villa with and without Boubacar Kamara

In the space of a few months, Villa have gone from being a title contender to a side who may struggle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Indeed, when Kamara was fit and available, with the Frenchman scoring one goal and adding three assists in 18 Premier League games, Villa were a different beast.

According to Sofascore, Kamara averaged one interception a game, 2.1 tackles, an 88 per cent passing accuracy, 3.6 ball recoveries, and three blocked shots.

His aerial duel percentage was at 64, while his total duels won dropped to 57 per cent. On average, he was dribbled past 1.1 times a game.

Now, new data states Villa averaged 2.33 points per game when he was in the side, joint-top with Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie – who has largely been a fringe player this season.

Other more meaningful heavyweight Premier League players include Riccardo Calafiori and William Saliba (2.27 ppg), Bukayo Saka (2.26), and Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol (2.25).

Aston Villa Statto quipped that Kamara is the most important player in the Premier League. That is up for debate, but his positive impact cannot be denied.

Indeed, overall this season, Villa are averaging 1.72 points per game after picking up 55 points from 32 matches, with Emery’s side currently fourth in the table.

Villa fans will want Kamara back fit and firing next season, but the big issue is whether that is possible.

Will Aston Villa run out of steam?

Villa do not have the biggest squad in the Premier League, with talisman Morgan Rogers appearing to be running on empty right now.

However, Emery seems loath to rest the England international as they try to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa League.

What doesn’t help their cause is that they have a draining schedule in the final six weeks of the season. On Thursday, Villa take on Bologna, as they seek to build on their first-leg 3-1 advantage.

Just a few days later, the Villans lock horns with Europe-chasing Sunderland at Villa Park on Sunday, as Emery’s team tries to finish the season on a high.

They just missed out on a top-five spot in the league last term, but going into the final six matches, they are seven clear of Chelsea in sixth. Villa look set to reach Europe’s elite competition, but there could be plenty of twists and turns along the way.