Matteo Ruggeri: The games Aston Villa star will miss after confirmed news
Matteo Ruggeri is set to give Unai Emery a selection headache at Aston Villa as he faces two months out with a hamstring injury.
Ruggeri is on track to miss the next 13 Villa matches after suffering an issue in their recent 2-2 draw with Brentford.
The Italian defender was taken off at half-time in their clash on 10 October and missed out on their subsequent wins over Fenerbahce and Newcastle.
He has impressed since arriving at Villa Park in the summer from Atletico Madrid for around £17million.
Ruggeri had made three consecutive starts for Emery's side before picking up the hamstring problem, with two wins and a draw coming in that time.
Football Insider have now looked at the games he is due to miss after the Villa boss confirmed the extent of his injury in a damaging update to the media.
Matteo Ruggeri set for two months out at Aston Villa
Ruggeri impressed in Villa's recent 3-2 win over Spurs, making the most interceptions (5) of any player and more ball recoveries (9) than any other outfielder.
The Italian international looked to have nailed down a place as the Villans' starting left-back before being forced off against Brentford.
Emery confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that he will be sidelined for "more or less two months", while his left-back replacement Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also facing up to a month out.
The Villa boss will be concerned with the options at his disposal going forward, especially considering the calibre of opponent that stands in their way as Ruggeri recovers for the next eight weeks, with the 24-year-old set to miss these fixtures...
October
- 21 October: Viking (H), Champions League
- 24 October: Man City (H), Premier League
- 28 October: Bournemouth (a), Carabao Cup
- 31 October: Fulham (H), Premier League
November
- 3 November: Barcelona (a), Champions League
- 8 November: Man United (a), Premier League
- 21 November: Sunderland (H), Premier League
- 24 November: Galatasaray (a), Champions League
- 28 November: Ipswich (a), Premier League
December
- 2 December: Everton (H), Premier League
- 5 December: Crystal Palace (H), Premier League
- 8 December: PSG, (H), Champions League
- 13 December: Coventry (a), Premier League
What are Emery's left-back options for the visit of Viking?
Emery has also confirmed that Ian Maatsen has joined training this week after a layoff, but it seems unlikely that he starts in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Tyrone Mings looks primed to start on the left of their back four against Norwegian opponents Viking, after moving there late on last time out against Newcastle after Wan-Bissaka was forced off.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis has officially replaced Ruggeri in their UCL squad, as per UEFA, and could also play there, but seems more likely to be an option at centre-back.
The likes of Lamare Bogarde, as well as youth duo Travis Patterson and Rodrigo Fortes, are also in their squad for the competition, so could be utilised there by Emery.