Emiliano Buendia lifts lid on Aston Villa injury hell after goalscoring return

The winger was ruled out for more than a year with a knee ligament injury but was back in action in Villa's Carabao Cup win at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night

Emiliano Buendia has lifted the lid on his year-long injury nightmare and the frustration of being unable to help his Aston Villa team-mates.

The Argentinian winger suffered a knee ligament injury last August which ruled him out for the whole of the 2023/24 season. But Buendia made a triumphant return to the starting line-up with Villa's opening goal in their 2-1 Carabao Cup win at Wycombe.

"It's an amazing feeling to be back in the team, to play from the start and to help the team with a goal and to get through to the next round," he said. "I'm very happy. It means a lot. It was many long months fighting for this moment. Getting through a really hard process. It was a really hard injury."

While Buendia was going through rehab in the gym, Villa were enjoying their most successful season in years, eventually clinching a place in the Champions League.

"Every day I look back and remember the days I stayed inside working hard, looking at my team-mates training or in the games and I was waiting for this," added the 27-year-old. "I have been preparing myself and now I can help the team again. It was really hard, but obviously I felt proud of them. They did amazing last season to get a Champions League position.

"I really enjoyed watching them every weekend, but I wanted to be there to help as well and be part of the games. I tried to help from my side, to be close every day. They made me very happy. I've been working hard through the summer before the pre-season to start as a normal player with the team. I know it's a good moment for me. I'm trying to get a good rhythm to be able to help the team."

Unai Emery made 10 changes for the third-round tie, but Buendia's header put a youthful Villa side ahead against League One Wanderers and Jhon Duran's penalty doubled the lead before Richard Kone's late consolation.

"It's really important for the club to have as many players as we have, showing our quality," said Buendia. "We have many competitions and we want to go for everything. That's what the club wants and we are trying to be the best we can be.

"We showed we have a decent squad with many good players. We rotated, played our academy players who are starting their careers, so it's very nice."

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