Emery refuses excuses as Villa injury crisis deepens ahead of Viking Champions League test

Unai Emery has insisted Aston Villa have "no excuses" despite a mounting injury list that will rob him of several key players for Wednesday's Champions League home clash against Norwegian debutants Viking.

Villa head into the European tie in improved form, having won four of their last five matches in all competitions. Their latest success came on Saturday, when 21-year-old Switzerland international Johan Manzambi's 36th-minute header secured a 1-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle.

However, Manzambi was withdrawn in the 72nd minute with a knock, and Emery confirmed the youngster will miss the Viking encounter with what he described as a "small injury". His absence compounds a growing medical room at Villa Park.

"We are accepting of the injuries we had before," Emery said. "So many players we had injured in our process here and now we're still having some, like [Amadou] Onana for a long time, like Matteo for more or less two months. Coming back and joining us is Ian Maatsen, he's joined us and is training with us this week.

"Manzambi has a small injury, he's not available for tomorrow. Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] has an injury as well, more or less we expect three or four weeks.

"We have enough players, no excuses, and tomorrow we'll find solutions in case we need to get our performance, of course, collectively and individually in each position."

Defender Matteo Ruggeri is expected to be absent for roughly two months, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is sidelined for three to four weeks. The return of Ian Maatsen to training offers some relief, and Emery is confident his squad has the depth to cope.

Villa hammered Fenerbahce 6-0 last week and sit on six points in the group stage, but the visitors travel to Birmingham with growing confidence. Viking held German giants Bayern Munich to a 3-3 draw in their last European outing and are locked in a title race with Bodo/Glimt at the top of their domestic league.

"Champions League. Every team that plays Champions League because they deserve it, and they are dangerous," Emery added. "Viking drew against Bayern Munich last week, they lost against Stuttgart. They are with Bodo/Glimt in the league first and second with the same points.

"Viking are a new team as well with the capacity to draw with Bayern Munich and compete against Stuttgart and compete against us tomorrow. This is the Champions League and it is very difficult.

"We have six points which is amazing but difficult. Europe is always very difficult. Each team is very respectful for us."

Emery is targeting a third consecutive European victory, but he is fully aware of the threat posed by a Viking side riding the momentum of their Bayern result.