Kamara's Aston Villa impact
- Published
It had been a long 206-day wait for Boubacar Kamara on the touchline.
The 26-year-old had been sidelined since the 10 January 2026 after coming off in the ninth minute in the 2-1 FA Cup third round victory against Tottenham.
Eight months prior to suffering an injury against Spurs, he had missed eight months in 2024 following a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
However, his return in the 3-1 victory over BG Pathum United in Bangkok is one Unai Emery will welcome.
In the 17 games he started during the 2025-26 season, Emery's side won 12, lost two and drew three.
With 21 competitive league games remaining in the season, Villa's form without Kamara was stark - seven wins, five draws and nine losses.
The West Midlands club's win percentage dropped from 70.59% with Kamara in the starting XI, to 33.33% without the French international.
Kamara has represented France on five occasions whilst being at Villa, but he has not played for his national side since November 2023.
Since joining Villa in 2022 from Marseille on a free transfer, injuries have slowed Kamara's Premier League progress, yet his influence on the Villa squad is something not to underestimate.
