Express & Star

Ross McCormack among Aston Villa players left out of pre-season trip

Striker Ross McCormack is among several players to be left out of Villa’s pre-season trip to Germany.

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Midfield duo Gary Gardner and Aaron Tshibola and defender Tommy Elphick have also stayed in the UK, raising further questions over their futures at the club with the Championship season now just a fortnight away.

McCormack is the highest profile of the absentees. He had featured in three pre-season friendlies to this point, starting games at Kidderminster and Shrewsbury, having been brought back into the fold by boss Steve Bruce following their high-profile bust-up which saw the Scot spend the second half of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest.

Yet his opportunities at Villa would still appear to be limited and it is thought the club would be prepared to sell McCormack, who scored only three goals last term after signing in a £12million move from Fulham, should the right offer arrive.

Sunderland are thought to have registered in signing the 30-year-old but Villa will not sell on the cheap and his £40,000-a-week wages may also be an issue.

They are also willing to listen for offers on Tshibola - who like McCormack spent the second half of last season at Forest - and Gardner. The latter has fallen further down the pecking order following this week’s arrival of Glenn Whelan from Stoke City.

Elphick meanwhile has played no part in any pre-season matches so far as he recovers from a minor calf injury.

The centre-back, a £3million signing from Bournemouth 12 months ago, will be allowed to leave with Blues his most likely destination.

Midfielder Jordan Veretout and full-back Aly Cissokho have also been kept out of the travelling party as both close in on moves away. Back-up goalkeeper Mark Bunn remains in the UK as he nurses a minor injury.

Villa play in the Cup of Traditions tournament at MSV Duisburg on Sunday, before taking on Arminia Bielefeld at FC Gütersloh’s Heidewaldstadion on Tuesday.