ASTON VILLA midfielder Ross Barkley will miss Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Preston but his comeback is imminent.

Barkley has not played since a 2-1 victory over West Ham on January 10 because of knee ligament damage, forcing him to miss the last 15 matches.

But boss Unai Emery has revealed that he will resume full training over the coming days.

“We are recovering players. The only player ruled out is Barkley. The last two months have been really bad for him while he has been injured,” Emery told reporters.

“He is now so, so close to start training with us. Maybe even today [Friday], tomorrow or Monday. He is feeling good now.”

On loan defender Axel Disasi is unavailable due to being cup tied for his parent club Chelsea, but otherwise Emery expects to be at full strength for the trip to Deepdale as he plots a lively end to the campaign.

“Hopefully we can keep the players we have now being available for the last two months,” Emery said.

“Two years ago we finished the season strongly and we achieved the objective in the last two matches playing against Liverpool and drawing, and against Brighton and winning at home.

“Last year we finished the season so, so tired. A lot of players were injured, didn’t have enough energy and we lost the last match against Crystal Palace away.

“This year my objective and how we are now planning the rest of the season is to try to be full energy again with every player focusing individually and collectively on the objective we are going to face.”