Aston Villa‘s UEFA Europa League hopes have been boosted by the return to rivalry of captain John McGinn for Thursday’s last-16 tie in Lille.
McGinn has been sidelined since January on account of a knee harm and has missed Villa’s final 10 matches in all competitions, of which they’ve gained solely 4, taking eight factors from their final seven within the Premier League.
Emery, whose facet face Lille within the first leg earlier than the return at Villa Park on March 19, instructed a press convention: “He’s here. It’s important, but every player is important.
“Maybe as a captain, as effectively, he’s including one thing extra and he’s coming again. We are blissful and [will] attempt to get well his rhythm as quickly as attainable.
“But [on Thursday] he is here and he can play even in the beginning, or after.”
Emery confirmed he would nonetheless be with out defender Matty Cash, plus midfielders Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans for the journey to Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Cash sustained a knock in Villa’s current 4-1 residence league defeat to Chelsea, whereas Kamara’s season resulted in January on account of a knee harm and Tielemans (ankle) has additionally been out since the turn of the year.
Villa completed second behind Lyon within the Europa League’s league-phase desk, profitable seven and dropping solely one in all their eight video games.
