Why Emi Martinez can’t play for Aston Villa against Newcastle amid uncertain future

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Aston Villa’s season opener at home to Newcastle will see a different-looking Villa side to the one that ended the last Premier League season.

Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio have left Villa after their loan spells and there are doubts over Morgan Rogers’ fitness following a knock in pre-season.

That could mean a completely fresh attack for the Premier League opening fixture against Newcastle on Saturday behind Ollie Watkins.

And there will also be another enforced change as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will miss the first game of the season in goal.

Emiliano Martinez to miss Aston Villa vs Newcastle after Manchester United red card

With Villa needing to win to have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League on the final day of the season in May, a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United cost them dearly and they had to settle for a Europa League place.

Villa were heading for the Champions League before two late United goals, however their task was made harder when Martinez saw red in first half injury time.

A weak back pass saw Rasmus Hojlund sent clear and Martinez raced out to meet the ball. Hojlund knocked the ball around Martinez around 40 yards from goal, prompting the goalkeeper to barge into the striker and get his red card.

As a result, Martinez must serve a one-match ban which will be the Newcastle game this weekend. New signing Marco Bizot, who joined from Stade Brestois, is expected to replace him for the match.

Emiliano Martinez could still leave Aston Villa this summer amid transfer uncertainty

Martinez left the Villa Park pitch during their last home game of the season in tears, seeming to wave goodbye to the Villa fans ahead of a potential exit.

However, links to Manchester United never materialised and they have now distanced themselves from GianluIgi Donnarumma as they are not seeking a new goalkeeper.

An exit in the final weeks of the transfer window feels unlikely but is not out of the question. TBR Football reported earlier in the summer that Villa could look to sell someone like Martinez to improve their PSR situation.

However, academy graduate Jacob Ramsey looks set to join Newcastle and that would represent pure profit under PSR rules – so Martinez may not need to depart after all.