Aston Villa have been dealt a “big blow” after Ross Barkley suffered a hamstring injury against Brighton, according to Alex McLeish.
The former Villa and Scotland boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, has lauded the 26-year-old for his “special performances” since joining the club on loan from Chelsea.
The attacking midfielder was forced off after just five minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat and, as reported by the Express and Star, is expected to miss at least two of the Villans’ upcoming games.
Barkley quickly established himself as a mainstay for Dean Smith since moving from Stamford Bridge and had played the full 90 minutes in his opening five games for Villa.
McLeish believes the current manager will have seen Brighton as a winnable game and that losing one of his star men will have rubbed salt in the wounds.
Asked if the plans go out the window when you lose a player of Barkley’s quality, McLeish told Football Insider: “Yeah, that’s a key player. We talk about the influence of key players in a team and if you lose them.
