Unai Emery admits Aston Villa star is in ‘bit of pain’ in injury scare for Tottenham trip

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has admitted that Emiliano Martinez came back in a ‘bit of pain’ after picking up an injury with Argentina ahead of the trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Birmingham outfit will hit the road to north London this Sunday to resume their Premier League campaign. Aston Villa can even overtake Tottenham in the table should they win this weekend. Just a point currently separates the Villans and Spurs through 12 games this term.

Both teams have won eight of their opening fixtures with Martinez an essential player under Emery at Aston Villa. He has started in 11 of the claret-and-blue team’s games so far and has played all 990 minutes on offer yet. Emery was without the 31-year-old at Burnley in August.

Martinez has been essential for Aston Villa in the Premier League

Martinez missed Aston Villa’s 3-1 win at Turf Moor in matchweek three of the season due to an injury. He had felt some discomfort during their Europa Conference League qualifier first-leg at Hibernian four days earlier. The issue also kept him out of the reverse leg at Villa Park.

Emery replaced Martinez with Robin Olsen at Hibernian and trusted the 33-year-old to play Burnley and at home to Hibs. Now, he could again have to rely on the Swedish shot-stopper this Sunday. Martinez has returned from the final international break of 2023 with an injury.

Emery confirms Martinez has an injury ahead of visiting Tottenham

Speaking ahead of Aston Villa’s trip to Tottenham, Emery confirmed that Martinez picked up an injury while away with Argentina. The Spaniard does remain hopeful of having the 34-cap star available in north London. But the Villans will test the goalkeeper’s fitness this Saturday.

Emery said this Friday, via quotes from Birmingham Live: “Always it is very emotional to play with the national team and when he played the game they played, like Argentina and Brazil.

“I want to focus the match on Sunday to be ready for us. He came back with a bit of pain but I think, tomorrow, it will be okay.”

Martinez played the full 90 minutes in each of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil this month. La Albiceleste lost 2-0 against Uruguay yet also edged arch-rival Brazil 1-0. Martinez has started all of Argentina’s past 19 games since September 2022.