Premier League star set to miss rest of season & Euro 2024 with serious knee injury
Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is set to miss the rest of the season and Euro 2024 after suffering a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Kamara picked up the injury during the second half of Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday and was replaced by Moussa Diaby.
Villa have been riding high in the Premier League under Unai Emery, challenging for a top-four place, but they have been rocked by the news that Kamara, who has been an integral part of their midfield, will likely be sidelined for at least six months.
The club released a statement on Monday afternoon confirming Kamara had suffered a ‘significant’ injury at Villa Park, with The Athletic reporting that the 24-year-old’s problem is set to rule him out of the rest of the Premier League season as well as Euro 2024.
It’s expected that Kamara will undergo surgery to correct the issue in the coming days, with his forthcoming absence the latest ACL injury to rock the club. Tyrone Mings was left stricken at Newcastle United earlier in the season after awkwardly twisting his knee, while Emiliano Buendia also suffered the same fate.
Kamara had every chance of heading to Euro 2024 with Didier Deschamps’ France, having made his international debut in 2022. He now has five caps under his belt, with his increasingly impressive performances putting him front and centre of his manager’s radar.
His absence will be felt at club level. Kamara has forged a hugely successful partnership with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn, anchoring the midfield as Villa have exceeded expectations.
Emery’s side have gone off the boil a little of late, picking up just seven points from their last five games, but they are still firmly in contention for a Champions League qualification spot. They sit fifth in the table, a point behind Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, but now have Manchester United breathing down their neck after Sunday’s defeat at Villa Park.
Villa are also going well in the Conference League and hope to emulate West Ham United’s success in the same competition last season.