Unai Emery reveals Aston Villa fitness boost ahead of Southampton clash
Unai Emery could have a fully fit squad to choose from for the first time in six months when Villa visit Southampton on Saturday.
Winger Leon Bailey is the only player who missed on the midweek Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain and Emery revealed he is close to making a return.
Villa will train later on Friday before travelling to the south coast, when Emery will make a final assessment on Bailey’s fitness.
The boss has had to deal with a series of injury setbacks throughout the season but is now poised to have everyone available for what will be a crucial run-in, as Villa chase a top-five finish and a return to the Champions League.
Emery said: “We are going to train now on the field and we will see how the players arrive today.
“Yesterday we worked, and at the beginning, the players who were available for Wednesday will be available.
“Leon Bailey is progressing and getting better. Maybe he could work with the group today. If he is not able to play tomorrow then hopefully he will be available for Tuesday.”
Villa are big favourites to win at bottom of the table Southampton, who last weekend the earliest team to ever have their relegation from the Premier League confirmed.
But Emery has warned against complacency and has told his players not to waste the hard work which has seen them climb back into the Champions League race.
Villa have won their last three matches to move up to seventh in the table.
Emery said: “We have to win tomorrow. If we were not winning three matches before in the Premier League, today we were speaking, maybe, we would not have the opportunity to achieve again to be in a European position.
“Our objective is to get Europe, but we are dreaming of repeating the Champions League.
“It is our highest ambition we are setting, to play in the Champions League. Now we are there because we are performing in the last matches the demand we are trying to set.”
