Marcus Rashford takes Dubai trip in bid to speed up injury return

The 27-year-old has begun a warm weather programme in the Middle East as he looks to maximise every chance of returning before the end of the season.

Rashford, who joined Villa from Manchester United in January, missed last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace with the problem.

He is definitely out of Saturday’s home match against Fulham and the following weekend’s trip to Bournemouth, though Villa have not given up hope he could make it back for the visit of Tottenham, currently scheduled for May 18. Rashford is unable to play in Villa’s final game of the campaign, away at parent club United, the following week.

The England international is keen to prove his fitness ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers, having been recalled by new boss Thomas Tuchel for matches against Albania and Latvia in March.

Villa host Fulham aiming to move on from last weekend’s disappointment at Wembley and kickstart their bid for a top-five Premier League finish. Unai Emery’s team sit seventh in the table heading into the weekend.

The slim chance of Rashford returning for the clash with Tottenham is among the reasons Villa want the fixture to remain on the original date.

Spurs, who could be playing in the Europa League final three days later, have asked for the match to be brought forward but Villa have opposed the switch.  

Asked about the request ahead of the first leg of their semi-final with Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said: "I haven't looked too deeply into it, I don't know what sort of precedence there is to it.

"I know other leagues do it, which you kind of understand for a European final. I'll leave that to the powers that be and I'll concentrate on trying to get us there first of all."