Official statement confirms squad withdrawal & fresh injury blow for Aston Villa ahead of Crystal Palace

Aston Villa defender Pau Torres has withdrawn from the Spain squad due to injury.

The 27-year-old was called up to the Spain squad for the third time this year after missing out on EURO 2024, but will play no part in their final Nations League group stage fixtures. Spain had been due to play against Denmark and Switzerland, but Torres will now return to England after their medical staff reported a muscle problem.

A statement from the Spanish Football Federation read: “The international defender has been sidelined from the training camp and will not travel with the team for the UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Switzerland.

"The Aston Villa player arrived with muscle discomfort from his match against Liverpool and after the tests carried out by the RFEF Medical Services it is estimated that he will not be fit in time for the last two international matches of the year and in this way he will avoid running any kind of risk.”

He is the second player this week to withdraw from international duty after Ian Maatsen was prevented from playing for the Netherland’s under-21s squad. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said Maatsen had to withdraw due to injury.

News of both Torres and Maatsen’s injuries come at the worst possible time as Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey are also said to be dealing with their own respective injuries.

Kamara and Ramsey are both set for a period on the sidelines because of hamstring injuries, according to The Athletic. Ramsey was forced off in the first-half in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend, whilst Kamara came on as a substitute, replacing Amadou Onana. Kamara has a grade one strain which is likely to put him out for 'a few weeks' whilst Ramsey has a similar timeframe, but he will be assessed.

At least in the case of Maatsen and Torres they will be able to recover, rather than play for their countries. For those associated with Villa, they will hope that Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins will come through unscathed for their match against Greece tonight (November 14).

In some bit of good news, BirminghamWorld reported earlier this week that Matty Cash and Ross Barkley are set to return for their next match. Summer signing Barkley has been missing for the last four matches and hasn't played since October 26. Cash has been dealing with a calf injury which he sustained against Spurs, but his return should allow Konsa to play in his more natural position of centre back.

Aston Villa host Crystal Palace at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday, November 23 at 3.00 pm. A busy period awaits Unai Emery and his players with eight games scheduled before Christmas.