Ross Barkley and Axel Disasi are expected to be Aston Villa’s only absentees for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Preston North End.
Midfielder Barkley is closing in on his long-awaited return from injury but this weekend’s cup tie is set to come too soon.
Versatile defender Disasi is cup-tied for the clash against the Lilywhites having featured for parent club Chelsea in the third round of the competition.
Amadou Onana returned to Villa’s matchday squad last time out for our 3-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Club Brugge over two weeks ago.
Manager Unai Emery provided a fitness update at Friday afternoon’s pre-match media conference.
“I think the only player not available, ruled out for tomorrow, is Barkley,” said the Villa boss.
“We are going to train now, in the afternoon, and the players joining us today, like Emi Martínez, Robin Olsen, Leon Bailey, Andrés García, how they are physically.
“Hopefully we can keep the players we have now being available for the last two months.”
