Premier League: Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans ruled out for ten weeks

Aston Villa’s 2025/26 Premier League title bid has suffered a major blow after Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans was ruled out for 10 weeks with an ankle injury.

Tielemans suffered the problem in Villa’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday. The 28-year-old was replaced in the 74th minute after a collision with Newcastle’s Lewis Miley.

Tielemans’ lengthy absence adds to Villa’s growing list of injured midfielders, with Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn already sidelined.

McGinn will be out for two months with a knee injury, while Kamara is not expected back this season due to a knee injury.

«We know about Kamara, McGinn and Tielemans. Kamara has been gone for a long time, I don’t think he will play this season. McGinn is more or less absent for six to eight weeks and Tielemans absent for eight to 10 weeks,» Villa boss Unai Emery told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have to look at how we can manage central midfielders in the matches we are going to play,” he added.

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Third-place Villa, who are looking to win the English title for the first time since 1981, are just four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Help is on the horizon for Emery, who revealed Douglas Luiz is set to rejoin the club. The 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder previously played more than 200 games for Villa before leaving for Juventus in 2024.

Luiz spent the first half of the season on loan at Nottingham Forest and is ready to return to Villa Park for the rest of the season.

Asked about his other options in midfield, Emery added: “Amadou Onana will be back and Barkley will be back in a few days.

“He has been training individually but he is so close to joining us. I think Luiz is close to happening,” he said.

Emery’s injury-hit side play in the Europa League group stage at home to RB Salzburg on Thursday. Villa have secured their place in the last 16 and are looking to claim top spot in the league stage with a win.

Published on January 28, 2026