Aston Villa have been dealt a blow with the news that defender Ezri Konsa will be sidelined until March with a knee injury.
Although Konsa is now in his fifth campaign at Villa Park, it has only been since the arrival of Unai Emery at the back end of 2022 that he has lived up to his potential.
The 26-year-old was largely used as a central defender in 2022-23 as Villa made a remarkable improvement from relegation candidates to qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Since then, Konsa has been switched between the middle of defence and right-back, where he has sometimes been given the nod ahead of Matty Cash.
Such is Konsa's influence at the West Midlands outfit that he has made 33 starts in all competitions this season, the most by any outfield player at the club.
However, while Konsa was on the pitch for all of Villa's five goals against Sheffield United on Saturday evening, he lasted just under an hour.
Konsa collided with a post shortly after the interval, which led to his withdrawal, and Emery confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that one of his key men would be missing from the upcoming games.
Speaking at a press conference, as quoted by The Athletic, Emery said: "Ezri is injured. He has a knee sprain and he is not going to be available. I don't know, three or four weeks more or less."
In the short term, Konsa will be absent from Wednesday's FA Cup fourth round replay with Chelsea, with that game required after a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
As well as that fixture and a potential fifth-round tie with either Leeds United or Plymouth Argyle, Konsa may miss as many as four Premier League fixtures.
Up to and including March 2, Villa face encounters with Manchester United, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town respectively.
The first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie is due to take place on March 7, a natural target for Konsa as he begins his rehabilitation.
On a positive note, Emery added that Pau Torres would return to the substitutes' bench on Wednesday, with Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet seemingly in line to start against Chelsea. body check tags ::
