Late Marcus Rashford injury shows why 'starting 22' is needed | OneFootball

Even with the FA Cup semi-final ending the way it did, it has been an incredible season for Aston Villa. The year has been filled with excitement and the joy of playing in matches of consequence in three competitions.

Unai Emery said after the Crystal Palace defeat that Marcus Rashford is dealing with a hamstring injury. While he hasn't ruled the English attacker out for the season, the prognosis of seeing how it feels every week doesn't lend itself to believing that he'll be able to recover in time before the end of the season.

That is what having quality depth is for. Rashford's exclusion helped give a path for Leon Bailey to be in the lineup again. In a game that didn't have too much positive to take away from it, the Jamaican showed some life and nearly got one back for Villa after being subbed on.

Even without Bailey showing a spring in his step following a run of games without being in the lineup, Villa have Ollie Watkins up top. Between him and the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers, other clubs would happily trade places in terms of the available attacking options. Ross Barkley, potentially coming off the bench to make a difference, is a good, experienced player to turn to as well.

Planning for the inevitable

These types of things happen throughout the course of every campaign. In truth, Villa have had an excellent run of luck in terms of injury, particularly later on in the new year. For all of the worry about players being excluded or who is playing well and even Watkins admitting that he hasn't been happy, this shows just why Emery and Monchi were right to reinforce the squad the way that they did.

Especially if Villa is going to make an annual push across all competitions, keeping some resemblance of the 'starting 22' will be needed. Well-run clubs can't plan as if everything will go well. They rarely do. Something inevitably happens. Having the foresight to be set up for success, regardless of what happens, is what Villa needs to do and has done through their approach.