Unai Emery confirms double Aston Villa fitness boost

Villa have received a boost after it was confirmed both Amadou Onana and Ollie Watkins are available for Saturday’s match at Bournemouth.

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Watkins missed last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Brentford with a hamstring injury, while Onana was an unused substitute after boss Unai Emery claimed he was “not feeling fully fit”.

But both have trained this week and are in the squad for the trip to the south coast, as Villa look to rebound from their loss against the Bees.

Watkins suffered the hamstring injury in a Europa League win over RB Salzburg and Emery said: “He rested last week because he had a small injury and he wasn’t ready to play. 

“He has trained normally and today (Friday) trained normally too."

January signing Alysson has begun training with the squad following a minor injury but will not be fit to face Bournemouth.

Emery remains without long-term absentees Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans.

Villa head to the Vitality Stadium sitting third in the Premier League table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.