Aston Villa's pre-season preparations have been dealt another blow after striker Tammy Abraham came off injured in the club's final friendly of the summer against Borussia Monchengladbach.
The forward slipped in the middle of the pitch as he attempted to reach a pass from Ross Barkley, staying down in visible discomfort. Villa's medical staff quickly attended to him, and although he initially walked off and appeared ready to return, Brad Burrowes was already stripped and prepared to come on as his replacement.
Abraham subsequently limped down the tunnel, leaving the club potentially with only one fit striker in their squad: Ollie Watkins.
Watkins Yet to Feature in Pre-Season
Watkins, however, has not played a single minute of pre-season after being granted a four-week post-World Cup break. His lack of match fitness could be a concern if he is thrust into action early in the campaign.
Villa are already without Brian Madjo until September at the earliest, while midfielder João Gomes is also sidelined with a calf problem.
Onana's Long-Term Absence
In further bad news, Amadou Onana is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season after suffering an ACL injury during the World Cup.
These injuries leave Villa's attacking options severely depleted as they head into the new season, with the club's medical team likely to assess Abraham's condition in the coming days.
