Rashford’s Aston Villa loan spell over as hamstring injury ends his season

Marcus Rashford is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old picked up the injury during the first half of Aston Villa's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City and could have played his final game for his on-loan club.

Rashford has scored four goals and provided six assists since joining Unai Emery's side in January.

But he was kept out of their 3-0 FA Cup semi-final loss to Crystal Palace over the weekend, with Emery predicting he will be out for 'some weeks'.

It is not believed that the forward will need surgery, although further tests will be done to determine the severity of his injury.

Aston Villa sit in seventh place, just three points off the final Champions League spot.

However, having been knocked out of the FA Cup, they only have four games remaining this season, including one against Rashford's parent side Manchester United.

It is not impossible that he could return in time for their final fixture of the season against Spurs on May 18.

Villa's loan deal for Rashford includes a £40million option to buy but his future is uncertain.

Asked about Rashford's future on Friday, Amorim said: '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.

'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.'

Rashford, who came through Manchester United's academy, is under contract at Old Trafford until 2028.

However, he is unlikely to return to Old Trafford while Ruben Amorin remains in charge.

Rashford will also have a say over his next move, and it’s understood that his representatives will not sit down for talks until mid-June at the earliest.

The forward does not want to move to London and is keen to join a club in the Champions League.

Villa's hopes of qualification suffered a setback when they lost 2-1 to a 94th-minute winner at Manchester City on last Tuesday after Rashford had equalised from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, last week Unai Emery had hinted that Rashford edged ahead of Ollie Watkins in the Aston Villa pecking order as he can play in more than one position.

The on-loan Manchester United star was signed mainly to play as a wide attacker but in recent matches had been preferred to Watkins in the No9 role – much to the frustration of Villa’s top scorer.

'You always need two strikers and being versatile is better,’ said the Villa boss. ‘Rashford is versatile.

'I want to have players like these two as we try to get to the level we want.

Rashford, who has made 62 international appearances, returned to the England squad in March after more than a year out.

He started in both Word Cup qualifiying wins against Albania and Latvia.

England's face Andorra in another qualifier on June 7 before hosting Senegal three days later.