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Aston Villa’s summer signing, Evann Guessand, could miss several games later this season if he is selected to represent Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the end of the year.

The tournament runs from December 21 to January 18, meaning Guessand could miss up to seven matches in all competitions, including the FA Cup third-round weekend.

His absence would ultimately depend on Ivory Coast’s progress in the competition, though it is likely that national team manager Emerse Faé will select him.

AFCON begins on the same day Villa are scheduled to face Manchester United, with Ivory Coast’s first match coming against Mozambique on December 24. This means there is a slim chance Guessand could feature against United, depending on a few factors.

If called up, Gu

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