‘Fantastic’: Aston Villa ace could play first game in 6 weeks vs Newcastle

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Lucas Digne could make his Aston Villa return this weekend during Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United, caretaker Aaron Danks tells the club’s official website at his pre-match press conference. 

Funnily enough, the left-back spot has arguably been the strongest area of this Villa side during a dismal couple of weeks; veteran Ashley Young stepping into Digne’s shoes and rolling back the years on the flank. 

As such, the France international is hardly guaranteed an immediate return to the starting XI, despite recovering from an ankle injury that has kept him on the sidelines since mid-September. His return, however, comes as a welcome boost for a Villa side looking to claw their way away from the relegation zone.

“Lucas Digne has done a full week of training back in with the group. That’s fantastic,” Danks says. “And we’ll welcome him back into the squad.” 

Aston Villa face Newcastle United in the Premier League this weekend

Digne, who joined from Everton in a £25 million deal nine months ago, could hardly have recovered at a better time, with the Qatar World Cup now less than a month away. It remains to be seen whether compatriot Boubakar Kamara will also return in time to feature in Didier Deschamps’ squad, though Danks was positive when asked to provide an update on the former Marseille star’s fitness. 

“Boubacar Kamara is much closer,” Danks adds. He hasn’t trained with the team yet but he’s back out on the grass. He’s at the back end of his rehabilitation.

“After that, we’re very much as we were last week. There are one or two knocks and niggles that we’re going to have to manage today. On the whole, really positive.”

Aston Villa picked up a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Brentford last time out; Leon Bailey and Danny Ings producing some of their finest performances in claret-and-blue. Ollie Watkins also brought an end to his eight-game goal-drought in the Premier League. 

Villa appointed Unai Emery as Steven Gerrard’s full-time replacement this week. Emery will not be in the dugout this weekend, however, with Danks set to remain in caretaker charge until November.