Boubacar Kamara injury: Unai Emery issues update on Aston Villa star after win v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was unable to offer any certainty on the extent of Boubacar Kamara’s injury suffered in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, but there was some indication as to which body part the midfielder hurt. Kamara was the victim of a reckless late challenge from Malian international Cheick Doucoure and he limped off just before the hour mark.

The Palace midfielder was then sent off just a few minutes later for a similar lunge on Kamara’s replacement, Calum Chambers. Supporters were relieved to see the Englishman able to carry on after suffering his own blow but it was game over for Doucoure, who was booed down the tunnel for his poor discipline.

The Villans were able to hold on to their fragile 1-0 lead to take home a vital three points but there is now some great concern over Kamara’s fitness. The 23-year-old has been crucial to Emery’s 4-4-2 system, playing alongside Douglas Luiz at the base of midfield, and he would be a huge miss if sidelined for a lengthy period.

Quizzed about the seriousness of Kamara’s injury, Emery said: “I don’t know sadly but at the beginning, [it seemed] maybe it’s going to be some weeks away. Hopefully he is coming back quick.” The head coach’s right-hand man Damia Vidagany then added that it was “maybe the joint between the two bones in the external part of his leg”, but assured it was unclear at this stage.

Kamara will be assessed in the coming days to examine what damage has been done. In the meantime, Emery will be hard at work judging which players are best suited to replace him in the starting 11. Chambers was the man handed the role on Saturday but there are an array of options, including Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker.

On a more positive note, two successive wins and a couple of clean sheets has boosted Villa’s points tally up to 34 after 25 games played. In 11th place, The Villans are now just a matter of goal difference away from breaking into the top half. They have also put a seven-point gap between themselves and Crystal Palace directly below.