Unai Emery to decide on £51m Aston Villa signing Johan Manzambi before Forest visit

New £51 million signing Johan Manzambi could feature for the first time when Villa host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the 20-year-old midfielder is close to recovering from a knee injury sustained while playing for Switzerland at the World Cup, prior to his move from Freiburg.

He began group training at the start of last week and Unai Emery will decide whether he is ready to join a matchday squad.

Villa have been careful not to rush him after he consulted a knee specialist on how best to manage an injury that cut short an impressive World Cup.

Manzambi, shortlisted earlier this week for the Ballon d’Or young player of the year, scored three goals in North America before Villa moved to sign him ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle.

He is one of four new Villa signings yet to debut. Among them, Leon Goretzka is out until next month with a knee injury, while deadline-day arrivals Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are pushing to be involved against Forest.

Villa go into the match still seeking their first Premier League goal of the season.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”