Marcus Rashford is expected to be out of action for the remainder of the season at Aston Villa after sustaining a hamstring injury.
It is uncertain the extent of the injury but further tests will be carried out to ascertain the severity of Rashford’s injury including the possibility of a surgery.
Villa have only four Premier League games to go this season and the last of those is against Rashford’s parent club Manchester United on May 25, where he is ineligible to feature, meaning it is highly likely his club campaign is over.
Rehabilitation with Villa
Rashford is now focussing on getting fit in time for England’s World Cup qualifiers in June and then pre-season. The 27-year-old will do his rehabilitation at Villa but his long-term future remains open — Villa’s loan deal for Rashford includes a £40 million ($49.5m) option to buy.
“All the players that are on loan, they will return and then the club will decide what to do at the end of the season.” said United’s head coach Ruben Amorim when asked about Rashford’s future.
“Yeah, of course (I am pleased about their form). The talent of Rashford, the talent of Antony, all these players, they have to put that on the team. So we are really happy because if you put a player on loan, the best thing for us is for them to perform and they are performing.”
The England international was left out of the Villa squad which lost 3-0 against Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final semi-final, with manager Unai Emery estimating he will be out for “some weeks”.
Marcus Rashford has registered four goals and six assists across seventeen appearance — 10 starts and seven substitute — since arriving at Villa Park in January.
Villa are placed seventh in the Premier League with three points behind fifth-placed Chelsea. They face Fulham and Bournemouth before the games against Spurs and United.
Rashford’s progress complicated by injury
Having already established himself as Unai Emery’s preferred No. 9 ahead of Ollie Watkins, Rashford’s injury comes at a frustrating time for both him and Aston Villa. The 27-year-old displayed glimpses of his former self, especially in a 15 minute period in Villa’s second leg Champions League quarter final against Paris Saint-Germain and while he struggled to put together a complete, all-round display, there were signs he was gradually improving.
However, his recent injury halts his progress meaning Watkins — who admitted he was “fuming” with his recent bench role — will return to being Emery’s first choice striker.
This makes the decision as to whether Villa wish to trigger the buy option more complex, given the 27-year-old’s rejuvenation remains a work in progress and now complicated by injury.
Rashford’s future at United
The England international is most likely to depart Old Trafford in the summer given his exile under Ruben Amorim, his status as one of the club’s highest earners, and Manchester United quest for team overhaul during the coming transfer window.
Marcus Rashford is due for talks over his future with United this summer, as Amorim said last week. An exit is surely the best outcome for all parties, but it remains to be seen whether he will attract suitable interest should Villa fail to trigger the buy option.
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