Aston Villa have confirmed that Tyrone Mings has sustained a significant knee injury.
The centre-back was taken off on a stretcher in the 31st minute of Villa's 5-1 defeat against Newcastle United after a collision with Alexander Isak, and will now require surgery ahead of a lengthy rehabilitation process.
"I don’t even know where to start but to say thank you for all of your messages of support Villa fans," Mings said on Twitter.
"From the day I came here on loan I’ve given everything on the pitch, I’ll now give everything off the pitch to come back even better, whilst supporting the team.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, @TyroneMings. 🙏
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 14, 2023
"To the players, fans & staff connected to @NUFC I also want to say thank you. The applause, the messages & the medical support I received on the day was really appreciated."
Former Villa and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was also concerned about Mings's injury.
"I think it's a bad one," said Given on Saturday. "He just stretches his knee. Sometimes these are the worst injuries. It's not anything Isak's done wrong. His knee's just flicked out."
It's another blow to Villa, who lost Emiliano Buendia to a significant knee injury sustained in training last Wednesday.
Mings was a key figure for Villa last season, playing the second-most minutes of any outfield player and helping them to finish seventh and qualify for Europe.
Emery's side will play Hibernian or Luzern in their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff match, with the first leg on 24 August.
Up next in the Premier League is a home meeting with Everton, before trips to Burnley and Liverpool.
The good news for Villa, though, is that summer signing Pau Torres was able to replace Mings, while Diego Carlos also came off the bench at Newcastle having recovered from an injury that ruled him out for the majority of last season.