Aston Villa is currently grappling with a severe midfield injury crisis that has significantly impacted the team, which currently sits third in the Premier League standings. Manager Unai Emery provided a detailed update on Wednesday, confirming the extent of the setbacks for several key players.

Youri Tielemans, the 28-year-old Belgium international midfielder, has been ruled out for an estimated eight to ten weeks. Tielemans sustained an ankle injury during Aston Villa's 2-0 victory at Newcastle on Sunday, and subsequent checks have confirmed a prolonged period of absence, making his return unlikely until April.

This injury deepens an already critical situation in Villa's midfield. John McGinn is also sidelined for six to eight weeks due to a knee injury, while Boubacar Kamara faces an even more severe blow, as he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Emery emphasized the challenge these absences present, stating, "After those updates of those players we need to manage the centre midfield in the matches we are going to play."

In response to the mounting injury list, Aston Villa is actively seeking reinforcements in the transfer market. The club is reportedly close to securing a loan deal for their former midfielder Douglas Luiz from Juventus. Emery described the move for Luiz, who played for Villa between 2019 and 2024, as "close," indicating an imminent resolution to address the depleted midfield options.

Beyond the midfield, other squad movements have occurred. Tammy Abraham joined Aston Villa in an £18.5 million deal on Tuesday, while winger Leon Bailey has returned to the team after spending the first half of the season on loan at Roma. In a separate move, Donyell Malen signed for Roma earlier in the transfer window. Despite these challenges, Aston Villa is set to host Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday in the Europa League at Villa Park, having already successfully qualified for the knockout stage of the competition.