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Aston Villa have to find a way to survive an injury crisis that has deepened ahead of the start of the new Premier League season. Aston Villa have just completed their pre-season campaign with their final game at Borussia Park against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Sadly, the match ended in another defeat. It was their fourth loss against four top European sides, which does not sound particularly convincing before the season begins. What’s worse, they have been hit by more injuries after their last two games. The list of players on the treatment table continues to grow. Brian Madjo and Joao Gomes are expected to be sidelined until at least September following the UEFA Super Cup. After the match against Gladbach, another star was ruled out for the opening Premier League fixture. According to a report in Birmingham Mail, the latest player to suffer an injury was striker Tammy Abraham. “The striker slipped in the middle of the pitch as he tried to reach Ross Barkley’s pass before staying down in some discomfort.” Abraham’s injury only adds to the growing list of players who will miss the Premier League opener and possibly several matches afterward. The former AS Roma and AC Milan forward joins Madjo, Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi, and Amadou Onana, who is expected to remain sidelined until early next year. So, how can Villa cope during the opening month of the season, especially considering the growing problems in attack? Optimising the youngsters Villa’s attacking department will undoubtedly be weakened without Madjo and Abraham. That leaves Ollie Watkins as the only recognised centre-forward in the squad. Hopefully, he can remain fit throughout the opening four matches without suffering an injury. His only possible deputy is Alysson, who is naturally a winger rather than a traditional striker. The Brazilian youngster performed quite well as a substitute in the recent matches against PSG and Gladbach. Alternatively, Emery could utilise several wingers in the squad as makeshift forwards from the bench. The likes of Luka Lynch, George Hemmings, and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba could be trained to operate as a number nine. Emery could also tweak his tactical setup to accommodate those players by switching to a 4-3-3 or even 3-4-3 formation. Signing free agents? Another possible solution would be to sign free agents on short-term contracts. There are currently several experienced players available who could strengthen Villa’s squad, particularly in attacking positions. Apart from Jadon Sancho, who spent last season on loan, the Lions could consider pursuing one or two available players before other clubs secure their signatures. Former Manchester City and England winger Raheem Sterling is one name worth considering, although his performances have declined over the past few seasons. Another option is Senegal international Bamba Dieng, who made one appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If the Lions are looking for players with Premier League experience and a proven track record, they could also consider Memphis Depay or Adama Traoré. More well-known names such as Mauro Icardi or Joselu are available for free too this summer. It will be interesting to see whether Villa decide to explore this option after all.