Injured Aston Villa duo set return dates ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Ross Barkley and Matty Cash are on track to feature in Villa’s matchday squad to face Palace after the international break, BirminghamWorld understands.

The duo have missed the previous three matches with minor injuries but this week off gives them the opportunity to complete their respective recoveries. Villa have missed Barkley’s creativity off the bench in midfield whereas Diego Carlos and Ezri Konsa have struggled as as a right-sided defensive partnership in Cash’s absence.

Villa have lost their last four matches in all competitions, two of which have been in the Premier League. Barkley and Cash have been sidelined for three of these, so Villa will be hoping their introductions back into the squad coincide with a return to form.

Unai Emery’s side have dropped to ninth in the Premier League following last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat away at Liverpool but the gap to Arsenal and Chelsea in the top four is merely one point. Villa will be confident they can rise back up the standings with improved performances before the festive period.

Barkley and Cash will return at a good time as the fixture congestion is set to rack up over the next month and a half. They aren’t the only Villans on track to recover from injuries, either, as Jacob Ramsey and Boubacar Kamara should be back in three weeks after picking up hamstring strains.

Emery will be hoping to have all four players ready and available by the start of December, when Villa play Chelsea, Brentford, Southampton and RB Leipzig in the space of 10 days.