Aston Villa's survival hopes suffer blow with Heaton and Wesley out for rest of season

Aston Villa have been dealt a blow in their relegation battle with fears Tom Heaton and Wesley Moraes will both miss the rest of the season with knee injuries.

Heaton and Wesley were carried off during the 2-1 win at Burnley on New Year’s Day and Villa are expected to confirm their recoveries will be long term.

The injuries will give Dean Smith a huge headache he looks to keep the club out of the Premier League relegation zone.

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He has already been without Scotland midfielder John McGinn with a fractured foot and is now set to lose two more key players.

Smith’s priority in the January was to find a central midfielder to replace McGinn but he may be forced to make further moves in the transfer market.

Wesley went down at Turf Moor after a heavy challenge from Ben Mee, which led to him being carried off on a stretcher.

Heaton suffered his problem while falling awkwardly trying to save Chris Wood’s strike. Orjan Nyland came on for the last 10 minutes and Smith also has Lovre Kalinić on the books, with Jed Steer also out injured.

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