Injury woe for teenage Villa star Rushian Hepburn-Murphy
Villa boss Steve Bruce has seen his options up front further limited after teenage striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy was ruled out for several weeks.
The highly-rated 19-year-old, tipped by many for a breakthrough season, has pulled a thigh muscle and is not expected back until the end of the month at the earliest.
With last season’s top scorer Jonathan Kodjia still recovering from a broken ankle and Ross McCormack still out-of-favour, it means Bruce will again have only Scott Hogan, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Keinan Davis available up front for next weekend’s home game with Brentford.
Davis, also 19, earned rave reviews for his performances against Norwich and Bristol City and looks poised to play an increasingly important role as Villa aim to move up the Championship table.
But his under-23s strike partner Hepburn-Murphy has again experienced frustration, at a time when he would have hoped to stake his own claim for first-team action.
“He’s got a pulled thigh muscle and I can’t see him being available for at least another month,” said Bruce.
“It is a shame because of all the young ones, he’s the one everyone talks about.
“I just haven’t seen him play enough because of the injuries he’s had over the last eight months. It’s a bit of a concern because he keeps picking up these niggling injuries. I’ve hardly been able to see him.”
Hepburn-Murphy signed a three-and-a-half year deal back in February but has been limited to just two substitute appearances since.
