Aston Villa youngster Jacob Ramsey will miss the start of the season after picking up a foot injury while on international duty, according to The Athletic.
The England under-21 star suffered a broken metatarsal in the second half of the Young Lions’ slender 1-0 victory over Portugal in the European Championship quarter-final.
The versatile 22-year-old midfielder was seen leaving the game on crutches and is now reportedly facing up to ten weeks on the sidelines.
Ramsey was a key part of Lee Carsley’s set-up in the U21 tournament until his unfortunate injury, having registered a goal and an assist in four games.
Although the Young Lions ensured his absence was not felt when they obliterated Israel 3-0 in the semi-final, Carsley will hope his side can rally on without the Villa man again when they take on Spain in the final.
Instead of being at the thick of things in Saturday’s showpiece event at the Batumi Arena in Georgia, Ramsey will be rooting for his teammates from the sidelines as England bids to make European history.
The Young Lions have not lifted the Euros trophy in nearly four decades, but they have been spectacular throughout the tournament, winning every game without conceding.
However, coming up against five-time winners Spain does not bode well for their chances – although pundits have tagged Carsley’s side as marginal favourites.
Ramsey will be a huge miss for England and even more so for Villa, who will now prepare to take on Newcastle United in their Premier League curtain-raiser on August 12 without their youngster.
The Englishman played a pivotal role for the Villans last season, registering six goals and eight assists in 38 games across all competitions.
He was one of the protagonists of Unai Emery’s remarkable turnaround at Villa Park, as the Spanish manager rescued the club from an appalling campaign and steered them to a European finish.
