Manzambi, Ruggeri & Wan-Bissaka: Latest Aston Villa injury news and expected return dates
The latest Aston Villa injury news and expected return dates as Johan Manzambi withdraws from the Switzerland squad.
Aston Villa head into the November international break winless in four games, but in a far stronger position than they had been in after their early-season struggles nevertheless – but a series of injury worries could make life difficult once more when domestic football returns.
Summer signing Johan Manzambi is the latest member of Unai Emery’s squad to suffer from a fitness problem, and the Swiss midfielder has been ruled out of his country’s upcoming Nations League matches. There are now fears that the 21-year-old could now miss time for his club as well.
Ahead of their next Premier League fixture against Sunderland on 21 November, we’ve collected all of the latest Aston Villa injury news and updates below, along with the absent player’s expected return dates when available.
How serious is Johan Manzambi’s injury?
Johan Manzambi, who missed time at the start of the season due to a knee injury, has been a crucial catalyst for Aston Villa’s improved form and the prospect of losing the £50m signing for any length of time is a daunting one – so his club will hope that his latest fitness problem is a minor one.
Manzambi has withdrawn from Switzerland’s squad ahead of Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Scotland after failing medical tests.
“The midfielder joined the national team camp on Monday with a calf injury,” a statement from the Swiss FA read. “Despite intensive medical treatment and further examinations, his condition has not improved sufficiently, making him unavailable for either game. In agreement with Aston Villa, Manzambi will therefore return to his club on Friday.”
While the full prognosis has not been revealed, the initial assumption is that he is suffering from the same calf issue which first started troubling him in the build-up to the 2-1 win over Manchester City towards the end of October.
Manzambi was able to play through the pain for the past three weeks, suggesting that the issue is unlikely to be serious or to rule him out for any significant length of time – but he now stands as a doubt for the game against Sunderland at Villa Park.
Will Aaron Wan-Bissaka be available for Aston Villa after the break?
Aston Villa also face an anxious wait on the fitness of right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has been out for just under a month with a hamstring injury.
Head coach Emery had told the press ahead of the recent 4-4 draw with Manchester United that Wan-Bissaka was “close” to making his comeback, but he missed out on a place in the matchday squad. It is anticipated that the 28-year-old will be fit enough to feature against Sunderland after the international break, although that has not yet been confirmed. Matty Cash will be available again after serving a one-match ban against United.
The Sunderland match is, however, likely to come too soon for another full-back, Matteo Ruggeri, who had not returned to full team training as of last week. The Italian has been back on grass and ramping up his work with Aston Villa’s fitness team, but isn’t expected to be ready to play until early December as it stands.
Aston Villa only have one long-term injury victim at the moment – midfielder Amadou Onana, who may not play at all during the 2026/27 season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while on Belgium duty during the World Cup. It is still too early in Onana’s rehabilitation to know whether he stands a chance of returning prior to the summer.