Johan Manzambi injury concern as Aston Villa star withdraws from national team
The international break has only just started but Aston Villa may already have an injury concern before any games have been played.
Johan Manzambi has withdrawn from the Switzerland squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures with a calf problem and will return to Bodymoor Heath, according to reporting from Swiss outlet Blick.
The Swiss Football Association made the announcement on Thursday, saying: "The midfielder had already entered the Nati camp on Monday with calf complaints.
"Despite intensive medical care and further clarifications, his condition has not improved sufficiently, so that a deployment in the two games is not possible,"
The injury means Manzambi will miss Switzerland’s Nations League matches against Slovenia and John McGinn’s Scotland.
It is notable that Manzambi already had the calf injury when he arrived at the national team camp, and that important detail may actually signal good news for Villa.
He played 78 minutes in Villa’s 4-4 draw with Manchester United and although he was on the receiving end of a kick from Lenny Yoro, that would not seem to be related to this calf problem.
If this is a preexisting issue he has been playing through, it may be the case that Manzambi’s withdrawal from the Switzerland camp is more precautionary, wanting to rest the muscle problem to ensure he does not miss any games for Villa after the break.
Given he has been starting every league game of late, if this is simply him being careful with his calf, there is a good chance he will be fit to play when Villa resume Premier League action against Sunderland on 21st November.
However, it is not completely clear whether this injury was preexisting or was in fact picked up against Man United, and if that is the case, then it could be a real problem for Villa if Manzambi has to miss some of their upcoming fixtures.
Manzambi missed several games at the start of the season due to a knee injury he suffered while playing for his national team at the World Cup.
The 21-year-old has quickly become one of Villa’s most influential players since joining from Freiburg in a deal worth up to £59.5m, scoring three goals and providing three assists in eight starts across the Premier League and Champions League.
His absence would be a big headache for Unai Emery, so Villa will be hoping this calf problem is nothing more than a minor issue with nine days until their next match.
