Ian Maatsen facing up to two months out after ankle injury against Nottingham Forest
The left-back suffered tendon damage in Saturday's defeat at Villa Park, compounding a difficult afternoon that also saw Pau Torres limp off with a hamstring problem.
Aston Villa left-back Ian Maatsen is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks after sustaining an ankle injury during Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest at Villa Park. Birmingham Live reports that the defender was forced off late in the game following a challenge from James McAtee, leaving his side down to ten men because all five permitted substitutions had already been used. Igor Jesus scored the winning goal shortly afterwards.
According to The Athletic, subsequent MRI scans on Maatsen's right ankle showed tendon damage without any fracture. The findings point towards an absence of between six and eight weeks, a significant blow for Unai Emery's defensive planning. Speaking after full-time, the head coach admitted his initial concern was that the player might face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, though exact timescales were not yet clear.
The afternoon proved costly beyond Maatsen's departure. Pau Torres was withdrawn earlier in the contest with what Emery confirmed was a hamstring issue, potentially ruling the centre-back out for several weeks as well. Tyrone Mings came on to replace him at the heart of the defence.
With both defenders now facing time out, attention has turned to the remaining options at Emery's disposal. Taylor Harwood-Bellis was again absent from the matchday squad, having also missed the trip to Hull City the previous weekend. The manager explained that Premier League regulations require a smaller bench than European competitions, meaning one player had to be dropped when the Champions League group was trimmed, and Harwood-Bellis was the one omitted. Emery added that the centre-back's opportunity would arrive soon, particularly given the setback suffered by Torres.
Villa cannot add any new defensive cover until the transfer window reopens on 1 January 2027, leaving the coaching staff to manage with the players currently available through a busy autumn schedule.
