Unai Emery to make decision on £51m Aston Villa man ahead of Nottingham Forest clash
Supporters are eager to see the midfielder in action.
New £51million signing Johan Manzambi could feature for the first time when Villa host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The 20-year-old midfielder is nearing recovery from a knee injury sustained while playing for Switzerland at the World Cup, prior to joining Villa from Freiburg.
Manzambi began group training at the start of last week and Unai Emery will decide whether he is ready to be involved in a matchday squad.
Villa have been wary not to push Manzambi too quickly after the player consulted a knee specialist on how best to deal with an injury which brought his impressive World Cup to a premature end.
Manzambi, shortlisted earlier this week for young player of the year at the Ballon D’Or, scored three goals in North America before Villa swooped in to sign him ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle.
He is one of four new Villa signings still waiting to make their debut. Of those, Leon Goretzka is out until next month with a knee injury, though deadline day arrivals Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are both pushing to be involved against Forest.
Villa head into the match still seeking their first Premier League goal of the season.
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