---
title: "Aston Villa: Noel Whelan reacts to Lucas Digne’s injury"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/noel-whelan-reaction-lucas-digne-injury/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-03-15T18:05:53Z"
modified: "2022-03-15T18:05:53Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Noel Whelan reacts to Lucas Digne’s injury

**Noel Whelan has been reacting to the injury to Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne, as per [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-news-huge-lucas-digne-claim-issued-by-whelan-after-major-development/).**

### The Lowdown: Digne injured against West Ham

The 28-year-old was forced off after 10 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday with a [hamstring](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-injury-news-arsenal-18896713) problem and now looks set to join Marvelous Nakamba and Jed Steer on the treatment table.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

Calum Chambers and Douglas Luiz also took blows to the [face](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-injury-news-arsenal-18896713) but carried on at the London Stadium as Villa’s run of three straight wins without conceding came to an end.

Steven Gerrard [labelled](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-injury-news-arsenal-18896713) Digne a ‘major doubt’ for the Arsenal game this weekend, with the full-back set to undergo an MRI scan back in the Midlands.

### The Latest: Whelan reacts to Digne injury

Whelan, who contributes as a pundit for [BBC Radio Leeds](https://icdb.tv/stats/4247/Noel-Whelan) and watched Digne in the recent 3-0 win at Elland Road, was asked for his thoughts on the defender’s injury by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-news-huge-lucas-digne-claim-issued-by-whelan-after-major-development/).

He labelled Digne’s absence as a ‘huge blow’ and believes they could have done with the Frenchman being fit up against Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka this weekend, saying:

> “When you bring in new players, you want them to be part of the team week-in, week-out.
>
> “There’s no other way to help them find their feet at a new club. They’ve got to get that understanding with the players around them, and you want them to feel a real part of the team.
>
> “He’s not really had the chance to build those types of relationships on the pitch because of the stop-start first couple of months he’s had.
>
> “It’s a huge blow for Aston Villa because he’s a quality player. Set-pieces, experience, talent – they’re going to miss all of that, especially going into a big game against Arsenal.
>
> “They could really do with him fit against someone like Saka – who is in incredible form.”

### The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Everyone at Villa will be hoping that Digne’s injury isn’t too serious and that he can make a return prior to the end of the campaign. He has impressed since joining in January, averaging 1.4 key passes per game and drawing more fouls than team-mate Philippe Coutinho. \[[WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa)\]

You’d expect that Ashley Young will come in and provide [cover](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ashley-young/leistungsdaten/spieler/14086) for the Frenchman this weekend, but hopefully the [experienced](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ashley-young/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/14086) 36-year-old won’t need to line out at left-back for the remainder of the season due to Digne’s injury.

***In other news: [‘Not strong enough’ – Ashley Preece slams Villa man who completed just seven passes against West Ham](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/ashley-preece-criticises-leon-bailey-villa-west-ham/)***