Marcus Rashford will be sidelined for the remainder of Aston Villa’s current campaign as he pivots his focus towards international commitments according to reports
Since his loan move from Manchester United in January, Rashford has rejuvenated his form at Villa Park. Having been sidelined by Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, the forward successfully netted four goals and provided six assists for Villa.
However, Rashford’s presence was missed in Villa’s FA Cup semi-final clash against Crystal Palace over the weekend as he grappled with a hamstring injury. Rashford had been instrumental in Villa’s previous FA Cup rounds, scoring twice and assisting once. Without his influence, Villa succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Eagles.
According to David Ornstein writing in the The Athletic, the outlook for Rashford’s return to the pitch this season appears unpromising. While there’s a faint hope he might feature against Tottenham in the penultimate match, his involvement is improbable given that Villa’s last game is against his parent club, Manchester United – rendering him ineligible.
Consequently, the forward’s current priority is to regain fitness ahead of England’s fixtures in June. The Three Lions’ schedule begins with a World Cup qualifier against Andorra, and having been a stalwart starter in the latest qualifiers, Rashford is likely to be integral to Thomas Tuchel’s plans.
Villa manager Unai Emery faces uncertainty in Rashford’s continued integration into his squad, as the injury casts doubt on his potential permanent transfer. Emery expressed intentions to assess Rashford’s performance across the rest of the season before making any decisions regarding a £40 million move.
“It depends on the circumstances for now and the next weeks,” Emery stated.
Rashford proved a valuable asset to Villa’s lineup, though questions linger if his earlier successes were merely a fluke. The opportunity to evaluate potential declines in his performance remains elusive.
With the option to secure Rashford looming, Villa must decide whether to solidify their interest or permit his return to Old Trafford. Should Rashford become available, numerous clubs are poised to express interest. Notably, rumours have linked Rashford to a potential Barcelona move, with reports suggesting the Catalan giants are keen to pursue him this summer.
In the event that Villa opts not to activate their clause, Rashford’s future remains marked by intrigue, with European elites vigilantly monitoring his trajectory.
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