Key Points
- Leeds United face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in a crucial Premier League match for Leeds’ survival bid.
- Aston Villa suffered a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, exacerbating existing injury issues.
- Leeds United advanced past Birmingham City 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup on Sunday, but picked up new injuries.
- Four players are confirmed out for the match across both teams, with six more listed as doubtful.
- Three players are now back in contention for selection.
- Leeds manager Daniel Farke provided updates on injuries to Noah Okafor (hamstring/muscle issue) and Dan James (back injury).
- Aston Villa boss Unai Emery’s side had key absences even before their FA Cup tie, with further blows during the game.
Villa Park (The Leeds Times) February 16, 2026 – Aston Villa and Leeds United are grappling with significant injury challenges ahead of their Premier League clash on Saturday, as fresh blows from recent FA Cup ties have left four players out and six doubtful, though three are now returning.
- Key Points
- What Happened in Aston Villa’s FA Cup Defeat?
- Which New Injuries Hit Aston Villa?
- How Did Leeds Fare in Their FA Cup Tie?
- Why Was Dan James Absent for Leeds?
- Who Are the Confirmed Out Players?
- Which Players Are Doubtful for the Clash?
- Who Are the Trio Now Back for Selection?
- What Did Managers Say About Injuries?
- How Do Injuries Impact Predicted Lineups?
- What Is the Broader Context for Both Teams?
What Happened in Aston Villa’s FA Cup Defeat?
Aston Villa hosted Newcastle United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, suffering a 3-1 loss that highlighted their injury woes. As reported by staff writers at TheMag.co.uk, Unai Emery’s team entered the match already missing several key men, and the tie itself delivered additional concerns.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe noted his own side’s absences but capitalised on Villa’s vulnerabilities.
According to ESPN FC coverage, Aston Villa confirmed Andrés García (hamstring, out until late February), Boubacar Kamara (knee, out until early June), and John McGinn (knee, out until mid-April) as sidelined prior to kick-off. ThePuntLab preview listed Emiliano Martínez (suspended), Ezri Konsa (suspended), Amadou Onana (hamstring), and Andrés García (doubtful) among issues.
Which New Injuries Hit Aston Villa?
Matty Cash has been absent for recent matches due to a knee problem but offers “hope to return” for Leeds, as per OneFootball reports. TheSportsBank.net detailed Cash’s knee inflammation ruling him out of the Newcastle game, alongside long-term absentees McGinn (knee), Kamara (knee), Youri Tielemans (ankle), and García (thigh).
Sports Mole’s team news roundup from earlier previews noted Tyrone Mings (hamstring) out, with doubtfuls including Andrés García (unspecified), Amadou Onana (muscle), Matty Cash (discomfort), Ezri Konsa (calf), and Lamare Bogarde (knock). FotMob’s predicted lineups confirm unavailability for Villa: Marco Bizot (suspension), Andrés García, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans.
As reported by journalists at Talk-Villa.com, Unai Emery stated in his pre-match press conference:
“Today, the last players joined with us after playing, performing for their national teams. Normally, we give them two days off after their last match playing there,”
expressing hope for Cash, Bogarde, Konsa, and Onana.
How Did Leeds Fare in Their FA Cup Tie?
Leeds United travelled to Birmingham City on Sunday, drawing 1-1 before winning 4-2 on penalties to reach the fifth round. LeedsAllOver.com detailed fresh concerns over Noah Okafor and Dan James post-match.
Daniel Farke made changes, but the win came at a cost. As per MotLeedsNews.com, Okafor assisted the opener but lasted 82 minutes before hobbling off with a hamstring issue; Farke said:
“Just a muscle issue I think. Hope he’s OK for the next game.”
Why Was Dan James Absent for Leeds?
Dan James, recently back from a long-term layoff, missed the Birmingham tie entirely due to a back injury. Farke told reporters after the game, as quoted by TheLeedsPress.com:
“Back injury for Dan James. Hopefully not too bad.”
LeedsLive via LeedsAllOver added:
“Dan James has issues with his back,”
with Farke hoping it’s minor ahead of Villa. TheLeedsPress.com’s Daniel Farke update elaborated:
“Okafor felt something in hamstring. Hopefully just a cramp. Too early to say.”
Who Are the Confirmed Out Players?
Across both squads, four are definitively out: For Aston Villa, Tyrone Mings (long-term), Andrés García, Boubacar Kamara, and John McGinn per multiple sources including FotMob and ESPN. Leeds’ long-term absentees include Anton Stach and Pascal Struijk, as listed in FotMob previews.
ThePuntLab specified Villa’s Martínez (suspended) and Kamara (hamstring). These absences weaken Villa’s spine significantly.
Which Players Are Doubtful for the Clash?
Six doubts compound the issues: Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa (calf from international duty), Matty Cash (knee), Amadou Onana (hamstring/muscle), Lamare Bogarde (knock), Youri Tielemans (injury), per Sports Mole and Talk-Villa.
For Leeds, Noah Okafor (hamstring), Dan James (back), plus others like Wilfried Gnonto (calf), Ethan Ampadu (injury), Lucas Perri (thigh), and Sebastiaan Bornauw (injury) from ThePuntLab and NYT Athletic updates. TheLeedsPress noted Konsa’s early international return preventing full training with England’s Thomas Tuchel.
Who Are the Trio Now Back for Selection?
Three players boost hopes: Matty Cash offers “hope to return” after missing two games, as OneFootball reported post-Bournemouth and Brighton. Unai Emery hinted at returns for Cash, Konsa, Onana, and Bogarde in his briefing.
For Leeds, Daniel James is pushing despite the back issue, and fringe players like Sean Longstaff showed in the shootout. FotMob and Sports Mole predicted XIs suggest Pascal Struijk back for Leeds earlier, but current updates point to managed returns like Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
What Did Managers Say About Injuries?
Daniel Farke, post-Birmingham, was cautious:
“Dan James has issues with his back,”
and on Okafor:
“Hopefully just a cramp. Too early to say,”
as directly quoted by TheLeedsPress.com journalists.
Unai Emery, via Talk-Villa.com, focused on internationals: hopeful for the quartet including Cash. Earlier, TheLeedsPress reported Emery likely to update on Konsa in pressers.
How Do Injuries Impact Predicted Lineups?
FotMob predicts Villa weakened without Bizot, García, Kamara, McGinn, Cash, Tielemans; Leeds without Stach, Struijk. Sports Mole’s earlier XI for Villa: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Buendia; Rogers; Watkins – now heavily altered.
Leeds XI prediction: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Stach, Ampadu, Longstaff; Aaronson, Nmecha, Okafor – but Okafor/James doubts shift to Gnonto or Calvert-Lewin.
What Is the Broader Context for Both Teams?
Leeds fight relegation, per MotLeedsNews, managing injuries well but depth tested without January signings like Jorgen Strand Larsen. Villa, third-placed, lost momentum with FA Cup exit and injuries piling up.
The 3pm kick-off at Villa Park looms large, with Farke’s Whites needing points amid a tough run. Emery’s side, despite home strength, faces selection headaches.
This scenario leaves both camps navigating precarious squads, with survival for Leeds and top-four push for Villa hanging in balance. Full recovery details expected in pre-match briefings.
