Marcus Rashford ‘blocks international call’ for another Aston Villa star – Exclusive
Aston Villa are in a superb position with just weeks remaining of the season.
The Villans are well in the mix for top five in the Premier League, they have a Wembley semi-final awaiting them in a very realistically winnable FA Cup, and the Champions League lantern is still offering a flame despite their 3-1 quarter-final deficit to Paris Saint-Germain.
Unai Emery’s side warmed up for their eagerly anticipated Villa Park midweek against PSG when they, albeit eventually, breezed past relegated Southampton at St Mary’s.
A 3-0 win on paper, Villa were made to wait before the floodgates opened, as Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, and John McGinn fired goals in the final 17 minutes while Marco Asensio was denied twice from the penalty spot by Aaron Ramsdale.
Another encouraging performance came from Jacob Ramsey, who was busy both in duels and in possession in waving Villa forward, even if a goal nor an assist wasn’t to be.
Ramsey aiming for England call-up, teammate blocking path
Ramsey has had an impressive season for Aston Villa after recovering from injury and is clearly rated by Emery, despite the star-studded squad with which he now operates.
The 23-year-old has been a key part of the side to have progressed so far in several competitions this year, but he has yet to receive a senior England call-up.
The hope was that Thomas Tuchel could have considered him among some of his potential new calls, but instead, the incoming Three Lions manager opted to restore Villa teammate Marcus Rashford to the fold after he missed Euro 2024.
Ramsey has previously scored four goals in 16 caps for the England Under-21 ‘Young Lions’, and has become an established member of the Villa squad over recent seasons.
TV commentator and football analysis expert Ian Darke has revealed Ramsey needs rival players in his position or the England team in general “not to play well” so Tuchel could explore further options.
“The problem Ramsey has breaking into the England squad is that they have so many players in his mould of position,” Darke exclusively told Villa News.
“Gordon, Eze, Grealish if he gets back in, even Rashford as well. That’s quite a list for one position. But if you’re asking if I think he’ll ever be called up, I think at some point he probably will.
“Ramsey just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. He does probably also need England not to play well a few times, so Tuchel is opening up his mind to the likes of himself.”
Aston Villa turn attention back to Champions League
Aston Villa now have their full focus on PSG (15 April), who have been dubbed potential favourites for the Champions League crown this season, such is their rocketing progress over recent months.
PSG are yet to lift Europe’s top prize, which galvanises their incentive, but Villa know their task is clear: an early goal, leave everything out there.
| Aston Villa – next four fixtures | Date |
| PSG (H) – Champions League QF 2L (agg: 1-1) | 15 April |
| Newcastle (H) – Premier League | 19 April |
| Manchester City (A) – Premier League | 22 April |
| Crystal Palace (N) – FA Cup SF | 26 April |
The atmosphere at Villa Park will be one for the ages, at the very least what we saw when Bayern Munich came to town and left empty-handed in the league phase.
The players in claret and blue know any one of them can reach levels of heroism that for some would be unprecedented in their careers.