Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
Kamara, 26, sustained the knee injury in the opening minutes of Villa’s 2-1 FA Cup victory against Tottenham Hotspur on January 10 and underwent further tests over the next week to determine the extent.
Villa had previously stated that the expectation was that the France international would miss between two to three weeks, but a prolonged absence was suggested by manager Unai Emery before the home match against Everton.
“Kamara is out, his knee,” said Emery. “We are checking him, and he’s visiting some doctors. We are going to know about him in a few days, but of course not available and maybe for a long time. Hopefully not too long of a time, but we are checking him.”
The growing expectation from multiple sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, in recent days was that Kamara was serious, with fears he would be out for a significant length of time.
The injury is a blow to Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification and for the 26-year-old, who has suffered regular spells on the sidelines since joining in 2022. Kamara most notably ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in February 2024, keeping him out for eight months.
Villa are next in action in the Europa League against Fenerbahce on Thursday.
How will Kamara’s injury affect Villa?
Kamara is among Emery’s most important players and arguably has the most wide-ranging impact on Villa’s overall style.
He provides control as the midfield anchor and is crucial, out of possession, in negating opponents’ counter-attacking opportunities.
Villa are already weakened in midfield with injuries to Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana, even if both are expected to return in the coming weeks.
The France international had been in an excellent run of form, forming an imposing midfield with Onana and Youri Tielemans that was integral in Villa’s winning run.
It is likely Villa will need to turn to the January market to bolster their depleted midfield, having missed out on Conor Gallagher earlier in the window.