Aston Villa's John McGinn facing three months out with fractured ankle
John McGinn is facing around three months out after it emerged the Villa midfielder suffered a fractured ankle in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Southampton.
The Scotland international had to be helped off the field after sustaining the injury early in the match at Villa Park, with tests later confirming its severity.
Though there is relief McGinn has not been ruled out for the season, the injury still comes as a huge blow to Villa, who are facing up to a relegation dogfight after a run of four straight defeats which has seen them tumble into the Premier League’s bottom three.
McGinn has been a hugely influential player since joining Villa in a £2.75million move from Hibernian in August, 2016.
Having scored what proved to be the winner in May’s play-off final victory over Derby, the 25-year-old had enjoyed an impressive start to life in the Premier League and is a key member of Dean Smith’s team.
Villa are now expected to target a midfielder in the January transfer window but first face three pivotal league matches, starting with the Boxing Day visit of Norwich, the team directly below them in the table.
Smith’s men, who have lost seven of their last nine league games, then visit bottom club Watford on Saturday, before travelling to Burnley on New Year’s Day.
