Unai Emery desperate to 'recover some injured players' ahead of UEFA Europa League clash at Go Ahead Eagles after win over Spurs

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Unai Emery believes that Aston Villa's returning stars will be key ahead of their UEFA Europa League clash with Go Ahead Eagles. The Spanish manager was speaking after his side's impressive 2-1 win away to Tottenham in the Premier League. Thomas Frank's team took an early lead through Rodrigo Bentancur, but the visitors battled back with superb strikes from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.

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Unai Emery believes players returning from injury can help Aston Villa maintain their recent run of strong form when they take on Go Ahead Eagles in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

Emery’s side battled back from a goal down to beat Tottenham 2-1 and record their third Premier League win in a row, thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.

Villa secured all three points despite injuries to some key players, including Youri Tielemans, who was not included in the squad, and Ollie Watkins, who started the fixture on the bench before coming on in the 61st minute.

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Emery believes Villa’s strength in depth will become increasingly important as the season progresses.

"Firstly our supporters were here and they were helping, and of course we were playing for them," the Spaniard told BBC Sport.

"The way the players responded, even when we were losing 1-0. This is the way we are trying to get better at and try to build the team with this structure.

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"But of course, next week is Manchester City, and there is the Europa League on Thursday.

"Most importantly, we are recovering some players. The dressing room is different now. Substitutes are very important.

"Now we need to recover some injured players. Hopefully, players will come back and will try and help us with their qualities."

Tottenham took the lead in the fifth minute through Rodrigo Bentancur, and it could have been 2-0 moments later when Mohammed Kudus fired the ball into the back of the net.

However, the Spurs forward was clearly offside in the build-up.

Frank told Sky Sports that he felt his side had more clear-cut chances than Villa despite falling to defeat.

"It was exactly the game I expected it to be, against two good teams, very tight," Frank said. "There weren't too many chances. I think overall it could've gone either way.

"I think 1-1 would've been a fair result. Villa scored two goals from outside the box in moments where you wouldn't expect them to score.

"Fair play for their moments of quality. We also easily could've won.

"There were two big teams on the pitch. We started very well. Villa produced two goals out of nothing, and we had four or five moments where we couldn't produce.

"If you told me before the game that these players will be shooting from these positions, I'd have said 'happy days'."

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