Aston Villa dealt new injury blow as statement made

Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen has withdrawn from international duty with an injury.

The defender had been called up to the Netherlands Under-21s squad for matches against Slovakia and England during the November international break, but will now return to Bodymoor Heath to be assessed by Villa’s medical team.

Maatsen played in Villa’s last match before the international break, against Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday. He was a second half substitute for Lucas Digne, coming off the subs’ bench on 74 minutes during the 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

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The exact nature of his injury was not confirmed in a statement made by the Netherlands which read: “Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa) and Calvin Raatsie (Excelsior) are out of the Dutch U21 squad due to injuries.”

Villa return to action in the Premier League against Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Saturday, November 23. Maatsen could add to Unai Emery’s injury problems, with four more Villa players - Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Ramsey, Matty Cash and Ross Barkley - currently nursing injuries.

Speaking after the defeat to Liverpool, Emery said: "Hamstring. He (Ramsey) was feeling something. Kamara as well, he felt something on a run back he did.

"Of course, we are playing a lot of matches, but Ramsey didn’t play on Wednesday, but they are always at risk of injuries.

"We have to accept it. They are injured now, Ramsey, hopefully not Kamara. They are coming back for the next match, hopefully Cash and Ross Barkley."

How big a blow would Maatsen being sidelined for a few weeks be? Tell us HERE

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