'Better than expected' - Aston Villa boosted by star man's injury update

The influential midfielder is expected to miss around one to two weeks with a calf injury sustained in the first half of last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Everton.

Villa had feared Tielemans would be out for a longer spell but scans have confirmed there was no serious damage after the Belgium international complained of pain.

While Tielemans is expected to miss this Sunday’s Premier League trip to Sunderland, he could be back for next week’s Europa League opener against Bologna.

“The update is more or less better than we expected,” said Villa boss Unai Emery. “Maybe in one or two weeks he will be available.”

Villa have been hit by a series of injuries to midfield players during the opening month of the season.

Amadou Onana (hamstring) remains out, while Ross Barkley has not been available while dealing with a personal issue.

Emery has at least been helped by the return of Boubacar Kamara. The France international, absent since suffering a hamstring injury in last month’s Premier League defeat at Brentford, came off the bench as a second half substitute in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup loss to the Bees and is now pushing to start at the Stadium of Light.

Recent signing Victor Lindelof, however, faces a fight to make the trip to Wearside after missing the midweek cup defeat through what Emery described as a “small injury”.

Villa’s lack of numbers in the middle of the park had seen the Sweden international defender utilised as an emergency midfielder on debut for the club at Everton.

“It is a small injury,” said Emery. “I think maybe a few days he will be available again but tonight was not possible.”