Aston Villa have surpassed expectations this year in the Premier League, and even looked like title challengers at one point.

Unai Emery‘s side currently sit in the lofty heights of fourth, though in order for a Champions League place to be secured, they’ll need to avoid injuries to key men and continue to maintain the gap between them and Spurs.

With that in mind, Football FanCast is here to keep you updated with the latest injury and suspension news ahead of Saturday’s evening clash with Chelsea.

Latest Aston Villa injury news

Unai Emery has six squad members unavailable ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Villa Park this weekend. The player to return to the squad will be Douglas Luiz, who has served his yellow-card suspension. Otherwise, the clash against the Blues comes too soon for Nicolo Zaniolo and Alex Moreno, who both have minor problems and could return next week.

Long-term absentees Jacob Ramsey, Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara are all out until the start of next season at the earliest.

Nicolo Zaniolo missed the midweek win over Bournemouth through injury, and while Emery was hopeful that the Italian wouldn’t be on the treatment table for long, he will not be fit enough to take part this weekend.

Whether he is fit for next week’s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos remains to be seen, but he appears to be the Villa player closest to a first-team return.