Marcus Rashford’s season with Aston Villa has officially come to an end. The England international, currently on loan from Manchester United, has been ruled out of Friday night’s Premier League showdown against Tottenham Hotspur due to a lingering hamstring injury—effectively closing the chapter on his short stint in the West Midlands.
The 27-year-old has been sidelined since April and missed Villa’s 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace. With the club’s final game of the season scheduled against Rashford’s parent club, Manchester United, on May 25, Premier League regulations will prevent him from featuring in that match. That leaves the forward without another appearance this season and raises further questions about his future.
Villa have an option to make Rashford’s loan move permanent for a reported fee of £40 million ($53 million), but uncertainty surrounds the deal. Reports suggest Rashford is eager to play Champions League football next season—something Aston Villa are still fighting to secure.
As of now, Villa sit sixth in the Premier League standings, pushing hard to climb into the top five and seal a spot in Europe’s elite competition.
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Manager Unai Emery confirmed in a press briefing on Thursday that Rashford, along with midfielder Youri Tielemans, will be unavailable for the vital home fixture against Tottenham. To make matters more difficult, Jacob Ramsey will also miss out due to suspension.
“We have to take each step forward, testing and analysing how they are recovering,” Emery said. “Marcus can’t play next week, but they are working every day and they’re feeling better.”
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The timing of Friday’s match has stirred some controversy. The game was moved at Tottenham’s request to give the London side more time to prepare for their upcoming Europa League final in Bilbao against Manchester United.
Villa, understandably, were not pleased with the rescheduling, raising concerns that Spurs might prioritize avoiding injuries over putting in a full-throttle performance at Villa Park.
Still, Emery isn’t taking anything for granted. Despite Tottenham’s disappointing league position—currently languishing in 17th—the Spanish manager expects a competitive showing from a side that has impressed in Europe.
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“They’re playing very well in the Europa League,” Emery noted. “They’ve reached the final and I expect them to use their best players and compete with intensity to stay sharp ahead of the final.”
For Villa, this clash with Spurs could be decisive. With Chelsea, Manchester City, and Newcastle also in the race for European qualification, every point matters. Emery remains focused on the task at hand and optimistic about Villa’s chances.
“I don’t want a holiday—I want to play,” he said. “After such a long season, we are in a very good moment. We’re motivated, we’re excited to play at Villa Park with the objective of qualifying for the Champions League. It’s not entirely in our hands, but there’s still a chance, and we have to take it.”
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