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MIDFIELDER’S SEASON DISRUPTED BY THREE-MONTH INJURY LAY-OFF AFTER HE SUFFERED A KNEE LIGAMENT PROBLEM 07:00, 31 May 2025 Unai Emery is hopeful that a strong pre-season will allow Ross

Barkley to hit the ground running in the next campaign. The midfielder’s first campaign under Emery was disrupted by a three-month injury lay-off after he suffered a knee ligament problem.

Before being forced off in the FA Cup third-round win over West Ham, Barkley had scored the winning goal in Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City at home. In December, he also netted

a crucial winner against RB Leipzig in Germany to boost Villa’s hopes of finishing in the top eight of the league phase table. He scored an equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace

and opened the scoring against Bournemouth before Evanilson netted a late winner for the Cherries. Barkley came off the bench in four of Villa’s final six Premier League games of the season

but struggled to recapture the form he had shown prior to his injury. “Last year, we analysed him at Luton, and he had a fantastic season,” Emery said earlier this month. “Fantastic

consistency—scoring goals, performing very well—maybe playing his best football in a long time. “He’s played for a long time: at Everton, at Chelsea. But he is still young at 31 years old.

“It was necessary for him to adapt to our demands this year. When he was at his best, he got injured. And he was out for three months. “Of course, that's a long time. But now he is

feeling good again. He’s training very well. “But for next season, I want the best of him. I believe in him. I believe in his performances and how he can help us—like he was doing. He scored

three, four, five goals this season. “He contributed a lot and was adapting to us, improving progressively. “Our demands—tactically and defensively—are very high. “Last year, we needed to

correct a few things with him individually. But I am very happy with him. Article continues below “Hopefully, he can maintain consistency through the summer, even while resting, so he can be

ready for next year.” WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF BARKLEY'S SEASON? TELL US HERE