Aston Villa’s defender Pau Torres is set to feature in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Club Brugge, having made a full recovery from a foot fracture, confirmed manager Unai Emery ahead of the Tuesday clash in Belgium.
The 28-year-old sustained a metatarsal fracture during a Premier League match that ended in a 2-2 stalemate with Brighton & Hove Albion in late December.
In addition, teammates Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash have returned to fitness after missing Villa’s recent 2-0 victory over Cardiff City in the FA Cup, along with midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who suffered a thigh injury last month.
“Torres, Mings and Matty Cash are all included in the squad,” Emery stated to journalists on Monday, noting that new signings Andres Garcia and Donyell Malen are not eligible for this competition.
“Kamara was in the squad on Friday, and he’s likely to see some minutes tomorrow.”
Emery reflected on their previous encounter with Brugge earlier in the season, expressing his belief that the squad will perform significantly better this time around.
“We faced them here in November, and now it’s March. We aim to improve upon that performance,” he said.
“In our last match here, we weren’t competing to the level that I expect. The players are aware and we have analysed why we fell short back then; I hope we can show a different side tomorrow.
“The next step is to focus on doing our best, staying motivated, being excited, achieving emotional balance, and playing attractive football.”
The Spaniard anticipates that January signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, who have played pivotal roles in Villa’s recent successes, will rise to the occasion in Europe’s premier club tournament.
“We’ve brought in players with extensive European experience for this competition. They’re accustomed to competing at the highest levels and can greatly assist us,” Emery remarked.
“Their gradual adaptation to our style has been progressing well. However, our objectives won’t be met solely by individual talent; we must work collectively to strengthen our organisation.
“Once we establish our structure, individual players can truly unleash their potential. This is the challenge we embrace.”
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