Nicolo Zaniolo may not extend his stay with Aston Villa
Nicolo Zaniolo may not extend his stay with Aston Villa
Injury Hub

Kobei Moore must take advantage as Nicolo Zaniolo injury woes emerge for Aston Villa

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Unai Emery will be hoping to extend the gap on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table as Aston Villa prepare to face Chelsea on Saturday (27 April).

The Villans currently occupy the fourth Champions League qualification spot, sitting six points clear of Tottenham after a fine 3-1 comeback against Bournemouth on Sunday 21 April.

Emery is not without his setbacks, however, and Nicolo Zaniolo is the latest player to deal the Villa manager an injury blow this season.

The Italian missed the victory over the Cherries, having exited the pitch after just 28 minutes during Villa's clash against Lille in the Europa Conference League, a nail-biting thriller that saw them progress to the semi-final on penalties.

Sharing an update on Zaniolo's fitness, transcribed by Birmingham Live (23 April), Emery said: "He has an injury but we have to wait how long it’s going to be. Hopefully, it’s not a lot.”

Despite a rollercoaster of a loan spell this season, the 24-year-old has come back into the side recently, impressing during the 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 14 April.

Unai Emery must contemplate Kobei Moore debut ahead of Aston Villa v Chelsea

Kobei Moore is one player who could benefit from the first-team injury blow, with the striker continuing to impress for Villa's Under-21s.

The 19-year-old has notched nine goals and three assists in 16 Premier League 2 appearances, and though he is naturally a striker, he can also be utilised on the flanks.

Aston Villa attacker Nicolo Zaniolo
Nicolo Zaniolo has been hit with an injury blow at Aston Villa

Moore was placed on the wing for the majority of the 2022/23 campaign, which could persuade Emery to promote the youngster to the first team before they welcome Chelsea to Villa Park on Saturday.

His capabilities of playing on the wing, mixed with his goalscoring prowess this season, could form a dangerous prospect to attack down the left-hand side that Zaniolo seems to have made his own recently.

In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has made a new prediction around Watkins’ future amid links between Villa and Joshua Zirkzee

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Aston Villa
Chelsea
Unai Emery
Nicolo Zaniolo
Kobei Moore
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