‘I’m taking care of myself’: Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez shares injury fears ahead of World Cup

Emiliano Martinez has revealed his fear of suffering an injury during Aston Villa’s busy schedule in October and November, before Argentina’s World Cup campaign.

The shot-stopper is currently away on international duty with his nation for their friendly games against Honduras and Jamaica on Saturday and Wednesday.

Martinez has featured in all of Villa’s eight games so far this season and is likely to start between the sticks when the Premier League returns in October.

The Villans will travel to Leeds United on October 2 in the first of eight league fixtures before the World Cup begins. They will also face Manchester United in the third round of the EFL Cup 10 days before the national competition begins.

Martinez has admitted he is doing everything he can to avoid injury during his club’s busy schedule, including avoiding bread and drinking cola.

“When we return from this tour, the month of October is left and nothing else,” Martinez told Argentine newspaper Clarín via Sport Witness.

“I was just talking about it with my brother, that in October we have nine or ten games with Aston Villa between now and the World Cup, which are going to go by very quickly. That is why we are enjoying this tour with the boys because it is the last one.

“I said that this year I was going to prepare like I never prepared in my life, but when you play so many games it’s more about recovery and the fear of not getting injured. There is no time for anything now.

“Now someone gets injured for four to six weeks and is already half a foot out of the World Cup.

“It is normal for the player to be afraid. I am taking care of myself more than ever. I try not to touch bread. I win a game and I want to have a cola and I don’t. These are things that I am changing to have the lowest possible risk of injury.”

The 30-year-old joined Villa from Arsenal for £17m in September 2020 and has since made 83 appearances for them in all competitions.

Martinez has represented Argentina on 17 occasions and helped them secure the 2021 Copa America after keeping a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Brazil in the final.