Emi Martinez may have ‘long-term injury’ after ‘really dangerous’ Aston Villa behaviour – pundit
The Aston Villa physios “got it wrong” with their treatment of Emiliano Martinez against Newcastle United.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the current Premier League concussion protocols.
Martinez was substituted in the first half of his side’s 4-0 loss to Newcastle United on Saturday (29 October) after he was accidentally kneed in the head by Tyrone Mings.
After being checked out by the Villa physios for close to five minutes, Martinez was deemed able to play on, a decision that has been slammed by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton.
The stopper then went down again a few minutes later and was replaced by Robin Olsen as a concussion substitution.
McManus can’t believe Martinez was allowed to stay on the pitch.
“That’s really dangerous. We don’t seem to have it in the same way the NFL have it over in America,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“He clearly took a blow to the head and you just have to take him off. I know he’s the captain and arguably their best but he needed proper medical attention.
“He probably said he wanted to play on, all players say that but the way he went down ten minutes later shows that the physios sometimes have to overrule the player.
“I think the Villa physios will look back at the whole situation and admit they got it wrong. It’s just so dangerous.
“He could be out more long term now because he stayed on for those extra minutes. These things matter.”
The game against Newcastle was Villa’s last without Unai Emery at the helm.
His first game as Villains boss comes against Man United on Sunday (6 November).
In other news, pundit claims Aston Villa are set to back Unai Emery with ‘hundreds of millions’ after source’s reveal.