According to a report by Metro on Friday October 23, 2026, Aston Villa midfielder Johan Manzambi remains an injury doubt ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City after suffering a knock in last weekend’s victory over Newcastle United.

The 21-year-old scored the winning goal in Villa’s 1-0 victory at St James’ Park on October 17 but was forced off in the second half after picking up an injury.

Manzambi subsequently missed Villa’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Viking on Wednesday, raising questions about his availability for the trip to Manchester City.

Villa manager Unai Emery has now provided an update on the midfielder’s condition, suggesting the injury is not serious but confirming that his fitness must be assessed before a decision is made.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s fixture, Emery explained that several players remained unavailable, with the club also monitoring others following Wednesday’s European match.

“We are training this afternoon with still some players clearly out, like [Amadou] Onana, [Matteo] Ruggeri and Aaron [Wan-Bissaka],” Emery said.

“We will see how some are after the match on Wednesday but I can’t tell you now before the training session.”

Asked specifically about Manzambi’s injury, the Spanish manager offered some encouragement but stopped short of confirming that the midfielder would be available against Manchester City.

“It is not a big injury, but in case he doesn’t feel 100 per cent comfortable,” Emery explained.

“The plan is can you run? Can you touch the ball? This is the process.”

The comments suggest Villa will assess how Manzambi responds to training before determining whether he is ready to return to competitive action.

Although the injury does not appear to be serious, the club will be keen to ensure the midfielder can perform comfortably before allowing him back into the team.

Manzambi has made an impressive start to life at Aston Villa since joining the club in the summer, registering three goals and two assists in six appearances, according to the report.

His winning goal against Newcastle underlined his contribution to Emery’s side, making his potential absence a concern ahead of a difficult away fixture.

Villa will be hoping to have as many key players available as possible as they prepare to face Manchester City, with Manzambi’s fitness likely to be an important consideration in the manager’s selection.

However, Emery has not confirmed whether the midfielder will start, be included among the substitutes or miss the encounter altogether.

A final decision will depend on his condition during training and whether he can run, work with the ball and move without discomfort.

For now, Aston Villa supporters will have to wait for further confirmation, with the club assessing Manzambi’s readiness ahead of Saturday’s Premier League showdown.