Ezri Konsa faces a month on the sidelines with a knee injury in a huge blow to Aston Villa’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The centre-back suffered the injury in last Saturday's 5-0 win at Sheffield United and boss Unai Emery delivered the worrying news the day before his side face Chelsea in an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Villa Park on Wednesday.
Konsa has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season and his absence will weaken Villa, who are already without Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings, though Torres is expected to be on the bench against Chelsea.