Maatsen (ankle) participated in Aston Villa's team training session Tuesday after several weeks on the sidelines and could be an option for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Viking, according to John Townley of Birmingham Live.
Analysis:Maatsen has taken an important step toward returning to competitive action after recovering from an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for several weeks. The Dutch defender was spotted training alongside his teammates at Bodymoor Heath on Tuesday, confirming that he has made sufficient progress to resume group activities. Manager Unai Emery had previously indicated that Maatsen was expected to rejoin training this week, and his return comes just ahead of Wednesday's European encounter against Viking. However, his availability remains uncertain given his lengthy absence. Maatsen's potential return would provide Villa with a welcome boost to their defensive depth, particularly with Matteo Ruggeri (hamstring) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) also dealing with injuries. Even if he is cleared to feature Wednesday, the coaching staff could opt to manage his minutes carefully as he works toward regaining full match fitness.
