OPINION
Believe it or not, Ross McCormack is still contracted to Aston Villa despite having not played for the club in nearly two years.
The Scottish international has been out of favour for the Villans since a public falling out with then-manager Steve Bruce, who accused the striker of skipping training – the player using a faulty electric gate at his home as an excuse.
Loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners all ended with the 32-year-old returning to Villa Park and with a contract that runs until 202, he still is not close to escaping his nightmare.
This season saw the hitman return to Scottish outfit Motherwell in January after a two year spell at the club between 2006 and 2008, but after just four appearances across both the league and the cup, he was struck down with a calf injury.
The hopes for both Motherwell and Villa would have been that this loan spell would turn into something more permanent but that is not going to be the case, as confirmed by the Scottish outfit’s manager Stephen Robinson.
Asked whether McCormack would be back next season, Robinson delivered a five word statement to the Daily Record, revealing: “No. He won’t be back.”
Another loan spell, another disappointing end for the Scot and it means that the headache of what to do with the striker is set to rear its head once again for Villa.
It is going to be very difficult to find a permanent deal for him, his big wages at Villa Park leaving that option dead in the water, so it looks as though it could be another loan spell to try and prove his worth.
It is not what anyone involved would have wanted but the truth of the matter is McCormack has not done anything to suggest he is worthy of a lifeline at Villa or a transfer to another club.