Aston Villa star forced off with shoulder injury in Elche friendly | OneFootball

Jadon Sancho has sparked fresh injury concerns for Aston Villa after leaving the pitch with his arm in a sling during a friendly against Elche.

Villa manager Unai Emery handed the winger a start in the warm-up match, but his afternoon ended prematurely following a worrying incident shortly before half-time.

Sancho appeared to land awkwardly on his shoulder after a challenge roughly five minutes before the break.

Medical staff rushed onto the pitch to assess the 26-year-old, who was in visible discomfort.

Although he initially attempted to continue, it soon became clear that the injury would prevent him from playing on.

Emery opted to replace Sancho immediately, bringing on Ollie Watkins as Villa reshuffled their attacking options.

The England international was later seen leaving the field with his shoulder placed in a makeshift sling, raising fears about the extent of the injury.

Villa’s medical team will now conduct further examinations to determine the severity of the problem.

The timing of the setback is particularly unfortunate for Sancho. The winger had recently been left out of the latest squad announced by England.

Sancho has spent the season on loan at Villa from Manchester United as he attempts to rebuild his career following a difficult spell at Old Trafford.

His loan campaign has been mixed. Sancho has made 19 appearances in the Premier League this season but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.

The winger has contributed two assists in league action and has frequently been used as an impact substitute from the bench.

His only goal for Villa came in European competition against Fenerbahce earlier in the campaign.

Sancho’s longer-term future also remains uncertain. His contract with Manchester United is set to expire at the end of the season.

Although the club hold an option to extend the deal by a further year, current indications suggest they will allow him to leave on a free transfer.

Villa have been linked with a permanent move for him if his performances improve.

A return to Borussia Dortmund has also been mentioned as a potential option for the winger. However, Sancho would need to lower his current salary expectations.