Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece has confirmed that Aston Villa duo Wesley and Tom Heaton will play no further part in the 2019/20 campaign.
The duo suffered long-term knee injuries in January, with the Telegraph suggesting at the time that they would both miss the rest of the season.
However, since then the Premier League has been suspended indefinitely due to a pandemic sweeping the world (Sky Sports) which means that, if it does re-start, the campaign will likely now run into the summer.
Some Villa fans may have hoped that would mean Wesley and Heaton could make a return to action as they may have recovered by then. However, those hopes have now been dashed with Preece confirming in his article that Dean Smith withdrew both players from their 25-man Premier League squad list at the start of February.
A Premier League official has now announced (via Birmingham Mail) that those lists will still apply when things do resume, meaning that the duo cannot play as they are not registered.
Loads of Villa fans have been responding to this update, with many suggesting that it is ridiculous and that the rule should be changed. Here is what some had to say…
Doesn’t surprise me. But both could be fully fit by the time football even resumes, and the PL might have to be more flexible with some of these rulings amid the stance of the season being extended ‘indefinitely’ and free agents having their contracts extended beyond June #avfc
— Kevin Hughes (@KevHughesie) April 7, 2020
Agree, if a players contract ends then why should they be allowed to play etc…they will surely amend this rule. This Covid -19 is a freak occurrence and certain rules need common sense applying to them
— Andy Greene (@Greeneythegr8) April 7, 2020
They need to reconsider if the league starts again surely?
— Dan Renshaw (@DanRenshawAVFC) April 7, 2020
Take them to court the time will be past contracts ran out transfer window should open aswell for all these reasons de league is over cant happen
— Way82 (@waym82) April 7, 2020
If they’re back fit (which they probably will be when the season resumes) it’s ridiculous if they aren’t allowed to play
— Jake (@jakey_oung) April 7, 2020
Yeah this won’t happen. The changes will have to be made
— Downward (@DownwardI) April 7, 2020
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