Aston Villa ace Boubacar Kamara out for two weeks with muscle injury | OneFootball

Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is set to be out for at least two weeks after picking up a muscle injury in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Ipswich Town, The Athletic reports.

The 25-year-old has been filling in as a centre-back due to Villa’s ongoing defensive crisis.

He partnered Axel Disasi, who recently joined on loan from Chelsea, in the heart of the Villa defence but only lasted 16 minutes against Ipswich before being replaced by Tyrone Mings.

Villa manager Unai Emery turned to Kamara as a makeshift centre-back, with first-choice centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres both sidelined.

Kamara’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Villa, who allowed Diego Carlos to complete a permanent move to Fernabache during the January transfer window.

This latest setback adds to Kamara’s history of injury struggles.

He previously suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Manchester United in February 2024, which kept him out for nine months.

He also missed two weeks in November with a hamstring problem.

Despite these setbacks, Kamara has been a key figure for Unai Emery’s side this season, making 25 appearances across all competitions.

His absence will be a huge blow to Villa, who are pushing for a European spot in the Premier League and a strong finish in the cup competitions.

The Frenchman will be unavailable for Villa’s next three Premier League games, including a tough clash at home against Liverpool on Wednesday.

He’s also expected to miss subsequent games against Chelsea at Villa Park and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park three days later.

Villa will face Cardiff City in the FA Cup on February 28, though Kamara’s return is more realistically expected for the league match against Brentford on March 8.

His recovery will be closely monitored, with Emery hopeful that he can return without further setbacks.

With defensive options still limited, Villa may need to rely on the experience of Mings and Disasi in the coming weeks as they aim to maintain their push for European qualification.