Aston Villa have been dealt a shattering first team blow with senior mainstay Orjan Nyland potentially out for the rest of the season after a serious injury setback on the training ground, according to Sky Sports.
The sports broadcaster claim on their website that the goalkeeper, who has been the first choice between the sticks for the Villans this season, has ruptured his Achilles and could well be missing for the rest of the campaign.
He looks set to be replaced in the starting XI by new signing Lovre Kalinic in 2019, having secured a deal for the Croatian international this month.
Opinion
No pressure Kalinic, but it looks as though the new shot stopper will be thrown well and truly in the deep end upon his arrival. There will be no time for bedding into the squad, rather facing a baptism of fire in the Championship. After some shaky performances this season, there will no doubt be some Villa supporters who believe that Nyland’s absence will not be too much of a problem for Dean Smith but losing that experience from his squad is not something the manager will want to contend with, having already had a number of injury problems plague his side. Still, at least 2019 promises to be something of a fresh start and you can be certain the Villa Park faithful will be desperate to see exactly what their new signing can offer their side in the new year. It might just come a little sooner than they would have expected.