Villa surprised many with the late announcement of Tom Carroll joining on loan on transfer deadline day.
Carroll was signed to give Villa much needed options in midfield with the squad struggling in the absence of Jack Grealish.
However, it now looks likely that Carroll and Grealish will be out injury for a similar length of time.
Carroll has picked up a muscle strain injury, unsurprising for a player that’s not featured much this term and is out of the Brentford game this midweek.
Reports indicate that this was the reason why Carroll was absent from the thrilling 3-3 draw with Sheffield United at Villa Park, a game the former Spurs midfielder was expected to start.
Carroll made his debut for Villa coming on as a substitute in the uninspiring 0-0 draw away at lowly Reading.
However, the next opportunity we are likely to see the Swansea loanee will be against West Brom, February 16th (Villa Park).
The signing and subsequent injury brings into focus the risky loan strategy that Villa have employed in their recruitment in January. Neither Carroll, Tyrone Mings nor Kortney Hause have managed significant stretches of games without breaking down through injury.