Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ASTON Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba has taken time to trek back home for the ongoing two week international break.
The midfielder was part of the crowd that watched Bulawayo Chiefs knock his childhood team Highlanders 1-0 out of the Chibuku Super Cup competition.
There were also reports Nakamba is nursing an injury though the club has remained mum on the matter.
Nakamba is yet to play a part in Villa’s 2022/2023 campaign, and just managed to survive being shipped out of the club during the just-ended transfer window.
He was one of the survivors when the club offloaded Anwar El Ghazi, who moved to PSV for £2,25 million; Trezeguet (Trabzonspor, £3,6m), Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea, £20m); and Matt Targett (Newcastle United, £15m).
Lovre Kalinic (Hadjuk Split) and Conor Hourihane (Derby County) also moved on free transfers.
With injury to Boubacar Kamara whom Villa coach Steven Gerrad has preferred ahead of Nakamba this season, it perhaps could be an opportunity for the Zimbabwean international.
According to Birmingham Live, Kamara has been forced to withdraw from the France squad due to injury and has been replaced by a former Aston Villa midfielder.
The 22-year-old has impressed at the base of the Villa midfield since arriving from Marseille as a free agent. He had initially been left out of Didier Deschamps’ squad, after receiving his first three caps this summer, but was a late call up after Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot was forced to drop out with a fitness issue.
Kamara was one of the early stand-out performers for Gerrard’s side during their 1-0 win over Southampton on Friday night but a knee injury saw him substituted before half-time with the Villa boss admitting he was “worried” about the defensive midfielder.
He will now spend the international break recovering, while former Villain Jordan Veretout has taken his place in the Les Blues squad.
The next English Premiership match for Aston Villa on October 2 when they clash with Leeds United at Elland Road. — @innocentskizoe
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter