Marcus Rashford may have played his final game for Aston Villa this season after suffering a hamstring injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the campaign. The Manchester United loanee missed Villa’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday, and reports suggest he faces a race against time to feature again before his return to Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old forward, who joined Villa on loan in January, is set for a scan to determine the severity of the issue. While there is a slight chance he could recover in time for Villa’s penultimate Premier League match against Tottenham on May 18, he will be ineligible for their final-day clash with parent club Manchester United.
Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed the injury after his side’s 3-0 loss at Wembley, stating: “He picked up a hamstring problem in training this week. We tested him on Friday, and it’s clear he’ll need some weeks to recover.”
Rashford’s absence is a major setback for Villa, who are pushing for a top-five finish to secure Champions League football for a second straight season. Since arriving in January, the England international has contributed four goals and six assists in 17 appearances, proving to be a key creative force.
With Villa now out of both the FA Cup and the Champions League (following a narrow 5-4 aggregate defeat to PSG in the quarter-finals), their focus shifts entirely to the Premier League. Currently seventh, they sit three points behind sixth-placed Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, with fourth-placed Manchester City just four points ahead.
Every match is now crucial, starting with Saturday’s home game against Fulham—live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ at 12:30 UK time.
As for Rashford, his long-term future remains uncertain. Despite being under contract at United until 2028, his next steps could depend on the plans of incoming manager or potential summer restructuring at Old Trafford. For now, Villa must push forward without him in their quest for European qualification.
