Big Jacob Ramsey injury update as Aston Villa prepare for USA tour
Jacob Ramsey only started eight Premier League games for Aston Villa last season
Jacob Ramsey was in group training at Bodymoor Heath today after missing Aston Villa's first two pre-season friendlies against Walsall and Spartak Trnava.
The attacking midfielder has been doing gym work since reporting back for pre-season two weeks ago. The club's medical staff and Emery want to give Ramsey the best chance of building up his fitness in pre-season ahead of the new campaign, which Villa will start at West Ham on Saturday, August 17.
Ramsey only made 16 Premier League appearances last season and started eight times due to injury. The 23-year-old broke a metatarsal in his foot while playing for England at the European Championships last summer and returned in September, but after scoring in the 6-1 win over Brighton at Villa Park, Ramsey suffered a reoccurrence of the injury.
READ | Aston Villa adidas kit tease as stunning Villa Park mural spotted
READ | Former Liverpool star 'free to leave' after Aston Villa links
He then started to show signs that he was ready to play an important role in Villa's quest to secure Champions League football, before suffering another injury setback in the win over Luton at Kenilworth Road in April.
Villa will fly out to the USA later this week for their pre-season tour, where they will play three friendlies. Like last year, they will be based in Washington for the first part of the trip to the USA, before heading to Ohio to face Columbus Crew on Saturday, July 27 at Lower.com Field at 8pm local time (1am BST). The MLS Champions will compete against Villa as part of the Leagues Cup Showcase.
Villa will then face Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Wednesday, July 31 at 8pm local time (1am BST). They will round off the visit with three days in Chicago and a match against Liga MX Champions Club America, facing the Mexican giants at the Windy City’s Soldier Field on Saturday, August 3 at 4.30pm local time (10:30pm BST).
After returning from the USA, Villa face Athletic Bilbao at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in Walsall on Wednesday, August 7 (7:30pm BST). Their final pre-season friendly will be against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, August 10 (5pm KO local time).
Click here to join our Aston Villa WhatsApp Community to receive the latest news and transfer headlines.