Aston Villa duo facing spells out with injury following defeat to Nottingham Forest

Unai Emery says Ian Maatsen could be sidelined for a “long time” after the Aston Villa defender suffered an injury in their defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Maatsen was forced off in the second half, leaving Villa to finish the game with 10 men because Emery had already used all five of his substitutions.

“I don’t know exactly, but the first information we have is that maybe it is a long time,” Emery said on Maatsen.

Villa were also dealt an injury blow earlier in the game when Pau Torres was forced off.

Emery confirmed the centre-back had suffered a hamstring injury with the defender also likely facing a period out.

The injuries could hand Taylor Harwood-Bellis an opportunity after he was again left out of the matchday squad against Forest.

“We needed to take off someone, and it was Taylor,” Emery explained. “With the injury with Pau, his time is coming.”