Kamara's Aston Villa impact

[Getty Images]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.

[BBC]