Aston Villa’s Premier League campaign has hit another stumbling block, with star goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez emerging as a major doubt for their clash against Brentford on Wednesday.
The Argentina international sustained a fractured little finger on his left hand following a collision with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson during Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The injury forced Martinez off at halftime, with Robin Olsen stepping in for the second half.
Reports from TyC Sports confirm that Villa’s medical team has diagnosed the fracture. Despite concerns over the injury, the club remains optimistic about a swift recovery. However, Martinez was also dealing with a back issue during the loss to Chelsea, further complicating his availability.
If Martinez is ruled out, Olsen is expected to start in goal for the critical home fixture against Brentford.
Villa manager Unai Emery is set to provide an update on Martinez’s fitness during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
The loss to Chelsea extended Villa’s winless run to eight games across all competitions, leaving the team 12th in the Premier League table with just 19 points from 13 matches. The mounting pressure and potential absence of Martinez add to Emery’s challenges as he seeks to reignite Villa’s season.
Fans await updates on Martinez, as his absence could significantly impact Villa’s defensive stability in a must-win game.