Aston Villa face an anxious wait over the fitness of Emiliano Martínez after the goalkeeper suffered a calf problem in the warm-up before Thursday’s Europa League win over Feyenoord.
Martínez was named to start in Rotterdam but was replaced at the last moment by Marco Bizot, who helped Villa secure an impressive 2–0 victory. Martínez’s late withdrawal sparked concern among fans but manager Unai Emery has provided an update on the situation ahead of Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Burnley.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Emery revealed that the club was awaiting the results of a scan before making any decision about the World Cup winner’s availability.
According to the club’s official website, Emery said: “He’s just had a scan an hour before the press conference, and I don’t know exactly now if he’s going to be available or not.
“I don’t know the scan result. But we are planning always to have players, two, three or four positions, and confidence to play with every player when they are available and when they are not.”
The Villa boss went on to praise Bizot’s professionalism after stepping in at short notice.
“The players have to play with the same idea and the same way we are building the team,” said Emery.
“And Marco Bizot did it – a fantastic job, following the game plan, our idea, and our demands on the field. Soon we’ll know if Emi Martínez will be available.”
Martínez’s fitness has rarely been a concern since joining Aston Villa in 2020 but two of his absences have come during the current 2024/25 campaign, including this latest issue against Feyenoord.
That record suggests the Argentina international is far from injury-prone but Villa’s medical staff are understood to be taking a cautious approach, mindful of Martínez’s importance to Emery’s system and the busy fixture schedule ahead.
Even though Emery remained pragmatic when pressed further about the injury, he reiterated that no decision would be made until the medical team provided full clarity. The Spaniard has repeatedly stressed the importance of squad depth and flexibility, which was evident in Rotterdam as Bizot impressed against Feyenoord.
The Dutch goalkeeper, who joined Villa in the summer to provide cover for Martínez, produced an incredible display against Feyenoord in the Europa League. His positioning and shot-stopping ability stood out, earning him deserved recognition from fans.
Bizot’s performance should give Emery valuable assurance heading into a demanding run of fixtures.
If Martínez is not declared fit, Bizot will retain his place between the sticks when Burnley visit Villa Park on Sunday. Regardless of who starts, Emery will be confident that Villa can maintain their momentum, having recorded three consecutive wins in all competitions.
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