Villa boss predicts major bounce back for Diego Carlos

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is confident summer signing Diego Carlos will play a “big chunk” of the 2022/23 season after having successful surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Carlos has had an operation on the injury he sustained on his second competitive Villa appearance against Everton last weekend.

The Brazilian, a reported £26million recruit from Sevilla, is set to be missing for several months, but Gerrard insists the 29-year-old will still play a significant role this season.

“It’s certainly a blow to lose a player of his importance,” Gerrard said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

“We’ve had a week for that to sink in and for us to process that. He’s had successful surgery (on Thursday), so we’ll look forward and try and be positive.

“Each day that passes he’s closer to a return, and we’ll give him all the patience and support he needs from a medical point of view.

“He’ll play again this season, for sure. We’re very confident of that.

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“It’s very difficult to put a timeframe on this injury because the surgery in this situation – and in most cases – is pretty straightforward.

“The important bit is how the rehabilitation goes and you’ve got to hit your targets as you go along. But, for sure, he’ll still play this season and he’ll have a big chunk of the season as well.”

Less than two weeks remain of the transfer window and Gerrard says he is mulling over whether defensive additions are needed in light of Carlos’ injury.

Centre-half Kortney Hause, who has not played since January and underwent a knee operation in the summer, has returned to full-time training this week.