Marcus Rashford expected to miss rest of season for Aston Villa

On-loan Aston Villa forward Marcus Rashford is expected to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

Signing for Villa from Manchester United in January on loan until the end of the season, 27-year-old Rashford has registered 10 goal involvements in 17 appearances for Unai Emery's side.

Rashford was unable to participate in Villa's dismal 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Crystal Palace at Wembley and is now expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

The Man Utd academy product will be ineligible to face his parent club on the final day of the Premier League season and may thus focus his attention on returning to fitness ahead of England's June internationals - a World Cup qualifier against Andorra and friendly against Senegal.

Rashford earned a first England call-up in a year when Thomas Tuchel named his first selection as the Three Lions' boss in March and the Mancunian will be keen to ensure he stays in the international fold this summer.

It remains unclear where Rashford will be playing his football next season with the Englishman still contracted to Man Utd until the summer of 2028.

Villa have an option to buy Rashford for £40m, but with the club under pressure to comply with the Premier League's strict PSR financial guidelines, the Villans may elect to focus their transfer business elsewhere.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Rashford continues his career at Old Trafford, but given the way he was exiled by Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim it feels unlikely the forward will stay put at Man Utd if the Portuguese boss remains in charge.

There have also been suggestions that teams overseas including Barcelona, Milan and Juventus could be interested in making a move for Rashford ahead of next season.

James Wilson

• Aston Villa F.C.
• Premier League
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