The news comes as a significant setback for Villa, who remain in contention for a top-five Premier League finish and potential Champions League qualification.
Rashford was notably absent from the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal at Wembley, where Villa suffered a heavy 3–0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The club had initially attributed his omission to a minor “knock,” but Emery has since clarified the severity of the issue.
“He’s injured,” Emery stated. “He got injured this week and (on Friday) we carried out a test. It’s his hamstring. We will assess him before each match, but he is unlikely to be available for some weeks.”
The 27-year-old picked up the injury during the first half of Villa’s 2–1 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday. Despite completing much of the match and scoring from the penalty spot, Rashford was substituted in the 76th minute, with Ollie Watkins taking his place.
Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United in January and has quickly established himself as a regular in Emery’s side, featuring in nine of the club’s last twelve matches. His recent form included key appearances in both legs of Villa’s Champions League quarterfinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Rashford’s long-term future remains uncertain. While Aston Villa retain a 40 million pounds option to make the loan move permanent, the player himself must still agree to personal terms. According to sources, Rashford is intent on joining a club competing in the Champions League, which could complicate Villa’s efforts to secure his services beyond the summer.
Further complicating the situation is Rashford’s reported reluctance to return to Manchester United under current manager Ruben Amorim. While his loan deal is set to expire at the end of the season, it remains unclear where he will be playing his football next year.
For now, both Rashford and Aston Villa face a critical final stretch – one that may proceed without one of their most influential players.
