Unai Emery has confirmed Marcus Rashford’s season is over after the on-loan Manchester United forward was ruled out of Aston Villa’s game with Tottenham on Friday.
Emery’s men host Spurs at Villa Park in their final home game of the season, which will be crucial for their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for the second season running.
Villa are sixth as they pursue a top-five finish that would secure Champions League football, but they are only behind Chelsea on goal difference. They are two points behind Manchester City in fourth, three adrift of Newcastle United in third and five shy of Arsenal in second. However, they are hampered by a significantly inferior goal difference to each of those sides.
They will be expected to win comfortably against a Tottenham side whose season rests on next Wednesday’s Europa League final with Manchester United. Villa’s game kicks off 45 minutes before Chelsea face United at Stamford Bridge.
Yet they will be without Rashford as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. With Rashford unable to play against parent club United at Old Trafford on the final day, his season is over.
Villa have an option to make Rashford’s move permanent and extend his career with the club after a spell in which he has scored four goals and recorded six assists, revitalising his career after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. However, they are appear likely to face competition from Barcelona for his services.
Asked about the progress of Rashford and midfielder Youri Tielemans — who has a calf injury — Emery said: “Youri and Marcus tomorrow are not available.
“We have to do each step forward, testing and analysing how he is recovering. I don’t know if Tielemans will be available [against United] physically.
“They are working in the training facilities every day and feeling better.”
Villa won 1-0 at Bournemouth without both Rashford and Tielemans last week. They will also be minus Jacob Ramsey, sent off against the Cherries, against Tottenham.
Defeat against Tottenham combined with wins for Chelsea and for Manchester City against Bournemouth on Tuesday would essentially end Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification.
However, they are unbeaten in 20 straight home games in all competitions this season, underlining why they are widely anticipated to leapfrog at least City with victory over Spurs.
