Aston Villa entered their weekend Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest needing a first league victory, having secured three points in the Champions League against Club Brugge earlier in the week. Matty Cash was absent for that European outing after experiencing muscular discomfort, prompting questions about his readiness for domestic action.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Unai Emery explained that the right-back had sustained a minor problem requiring several days of rest. The manager indicated that training later that afternoon would determine whether Cash had recovered sufficiently to feature at Villa Park.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka filled in at right-back during the midweek trip to Belgium following his arrival at the club. Should Cash fail his fitness assessment, the former Manchester United defender would likely retain his place in the starting eleven for the visit of Forest.
Johan Manzambi represents another selection question for Emery. The twenty-year-old midfielder has spent the past week working alongside his new teammates after joining last month as a free agent, though he has yet to appear in a competitive match. A knee problem picked up in training delayed his introduction, and Emery stressed that the medical staff would guide any decision regarding his involvement rather than rushing him back.
Beyond those two doubts, Villa have several confirmed absentees. Leon Goretzka remains sidelined with a knee issue and is not expected back until October, while Brian Madjo is recovering from an ankle complaint. Youri Tielemans is also unavailable for most of the campaign after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament representing Belgium at the World Cup.
Joao Gomes completes the list of missing players for the Premier League encounter. The midfielder served the final game of a three-match domestic suspension incurred after receiving a red card against Brighton and Hove Albion in August, although he was eligible for European competition and played in Belgium.
Nottingham Forest arrived in the West Midlands without a league win of their own, having drawn twice and lost once in their opening three fixtures. Emery acknowledged the challenge posed by Oliver Glasner's side, noting the familiarity between the two clubs from recent Premier League and Europa League meetings.
