Johan Manzambi could make Aston Villa debut against Nottingham Forest, says Unai Emery

Johan Manzambi could be in line to make his long-awaited Aston Villa debut against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, according to head coach Unai Emery.

Manzambi joined Villa in the summer from German side Freiburg in a deal worth more than £50million ($67.6m) after starring for Switzerland at the World Cup this summer. However, he missed the nation’s round of 16 and quarter-final games with a knee injury, with the lingering issue keeping him out of Villa’s start to the season.

Manzambi, 20, spent time in Spain recovering from the injury with knee specialist Jurdan Mendiguchia.

The midfielder was absent for Villa’s Super Cup final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, their first three Premier League matches and their Champions League opener against Club Brugge, though Emery confirmed that a decision would be made on his availability at the weekend after the team’s training session on Friday.

“Manzambi is progressively getting better, training with us this week and we’ll see how he’s going to train today, to feel today,” Emery said at his pre-match press conference.

“For tomorrow, is the decision I’ll take after the training session.”

Manzambi’s return would be a boost to Villa’s midfield, with Amadou Onana and Leon Goretzka both also sidelined by injury.

The 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo remains out with an ankle injury, while right-back Matty Cash missed the 3-2 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday.

Villa are one of six teams still looking for their first Premier League win of the season and are 17th in the table with just one point.