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Aston Villa winger Trezeguet to undergo surgery after suffering serious knee injury

Villa have been dealt a blow after it was confirmed Trezeguet faces several months out with a serious knee injury.

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The club’s worst fears were realised when scans revealed the Egypt international winger sustained ligament damage in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool.

He will now undergo surgery and has been ruled out for the rest of the 2020-21 campaign. It is likely he will the 26-year-old will not return until well into next season.

Trezeguet left the field in tears late in the second half after hurting his knee following a challenge with Reds defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

A host of team-mates yesterday took to social media to wish him a speedy recovery, along with Liverpool striker Mo Salah, his team-mate in the Egypt national team.

The injury concludes a largely frustrating season for Trezeguet, who scored his first goals of the Premier League campaign in Villa’s 3-1 win over Fulham earlier this month.

Signed from Turkish club Kasimpasa for £8.5million following Villa’s promotion in 2019, he was a key figure in the club’s remarkable escape from relegation in their first season back in the top flight, scoring three times in their final four matches including the only goal in a crucial 1-0 win over Arsenal.

This season he started the first nine Premier League matches before suffering a hamstring injury in early December. Since returning to fitness he had largely had to make do with appearances on the bench but appeared to be recovering some of his best form before seeing his season brought to a premature close.

Villa were already aiming to strengthen out wide this summer but Trezeguet’s injury and likely extended absence will place further emphasis on those efforts.

The club are also targeting a No.10 to ease the burden on skipper Jack Grealish and top scorer Ollie Watkins.

Boss Dean Smith remains without Grealish due to the shin injury which has seen him miss the last eight matches. January signing Morgan Sanson also has a knee problem and will be assessed ahead of Manchester City’s visit on April 21, having missed the trip to Anfield.

Teenage prospect Aaron Ramsey has, meanwhile, continued his impressive season in the youth ranks by being named the Premier League 2 player of the month for March.

Ramsey, the younger brother of emerging first-team star Jacob, recently signed his first professional deal and will be in action when Villa’s youngsters host Burton Albion on Wednesday in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup (kick-off 3pm).