Zion Suzuki could miss several Aston Villa games as Unai Emery problem looms

Emery could be without Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki for weeks in the New YearZion Suzuki during an Aston Villa match Zion Suzuki could miss several Aston Villa games

Zion Suzuki could miss a number of Aston Villa matches after the New Year if he is selected to represent Japan at the Asian Cup.Japan qualified for the competition, which will take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 until February 5, with the Samurai Blue’s first match against Indonesia on January 11.

They will also play Thailand and Qatar in the group stage on January 16 and January 20 respectively, from which they will be expected to progress as one of the favourites to win the tournament.Should Japan win Group F, they will play the Group E runners-up in the round of 16, which could be one of South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam or Yemen.

Progressing from that round-of-16 match, which would be played on January 24, and having also won their group, Japan’s route to the final would include a quarter-final on January 28 and a semi-final on February 1, before a possible final on February 5.

Villa will play Everton on January 5 at Hill Dickinson Stadium, six days before Japan’s first match against Indonesia, followed by an FA Cup third-round fixture on the weekend of Saturday, January 9.

It is unclear when Suzuki, if selected to represent Japan, would need to join up with the national team.Villa’s first match during Japan’s group stage comes against Manchester United on January 16.

Borussia Dortmund then come to Villa Park in the Champions League on January 19, before Villa head to Fulham on January 23 – their first match after Japan’s group stage ends.Three days after Japan’s possible round-of-16 game, Villa will play Slavia Prague in their final Champions League match, while two days after a possible semi-final,

they will face Ipswich Town away from home.On February 6, a day after the Asia Cup final, Villa play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Then, when Villa host Bournemouth in the Premier League on February 10, that would be the first match Suzuki could play after the Asia Cup.