Villa’s midfield has been ravaged, with Kamara out following knee surgery last week.

His injury record was a consideration when Villa signed him from Marseille in 2022 but few would have expected two extended spells out in three and a half years. He previously missed eight months in 2024.

Captain McGinn could miss up to nine games with his own knee problem while Tielemans may not return until April after an ankle injury against Newcastle on Sunday.

Villa were targeting Conor Gallagher before their injury issues, only for him to pick Tottenham after months of Villa negotiations.

Luiz has returned to plug a gap, with the midfielder – who had been on loan at Nottingham Forest – coming back to the club which sold him to Juventus 18 months ago.

The Brazil international has already missed 12 games for Forest this season through injuries.

Of those available to Emery, Amadou Onana has missed 16 games with injuries this season, including a hamstring issue which kept him out for six weeks, but the former Everton man is now of vital importance.

Ross Barkley has been missing since the start of December with a knee problem, missing 13 games. Despite the 32-year-old’s lack of action, Villa want to keep him as they need his experience, having rejected a loan enquiry from Sheffield United this month.

The return of Leon Bailey from Roma will give Emery an option but the winger suffered three hamstring injuries while on loan in Italy.

The fact Villa had to sell Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for profit and sustainability reasons also meant Emery lost a key midfielder.

Yet, despite their problems and his appearance on the bench on Sunday, Harvey Elliott is not in Emery’s long-term plans. Villa will not pay to turn the Liverpool loanee’s move permanent and he has not played since October.

“Yes, of course,” said Emery when asked on Wednesday if he had enough depth to compete.

“It’s time to improve, time to get as strong as possible with the players we will need and to compete in different competitions.

“We want to try to get better in the second part of the season, to compete in the Europa League, to compete in Premier League and to compete in FA Cup.

“Hopefully we can compete in those competitions as a protagonist as well. Our priority is clear, the Premier League.”