Can Rashford, Asensio and Disasi play for Aston Villa against Tottenham? FA Cup rules explained
Aston Villa welcome Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday (5.35pm), hoping to keep alive their chances of lifting silverware in the competition which they haven't managed to since 1957. Villa came close in 2015 under Tim Sherwood when they reached the final of the cup, but it's been almost 70 years since they last emerged triumphant.
They'll welcome Spurs, who are still fighting in four competitions - they head to Liverpool on Thursday evening for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, a tie they lead 1-0 - and who have begun to find a little form recently after a miserable winter.
Villa will have a number of their January signings in tow. While they bade farewell to Jaden Philogene, Diego Carlos and Jhon Duran in the transfer window, as well as allowing the likes of Emiliano Buendia and Kosta Nedeljkovic leave for Germany on loan, the Lions were busy working on sealing incoming transfers too. They made five additions, including three in the final couple of days of the window.
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Andres Garcia started at Wolves last weekend while fellow new signing Donyell Malen was one of four substitutions at the break. That pair were joined by Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi at the very end of the transfer window, all on respective loan deals from Manchester United, PSG and Chelsea. But can they play against Spurs on Sunday?
For the majority, they'll be cleared to play - and in the cases of Rashford and Asensio, it'll be the first opportunity to feature at Villa Park and in a claret and blue shirt. Rashford wasn't involved in the squad as United beat Arsenal on penalties in the third round at the Emirates Stadium, so he is eligible to play for Villa.
Overseas signings, of course, have no issues; Malen, Garcia and Asensio are all available for selection, and for Spaniard Asensio he too is likely to step onto the Villa Park turf for the first time.
One player who will have to wait for his opportunity, though is Disasi, who is cup-tied. The French centre-half played in Chelsea's 5-0 win over Morecambe in the third round and can't take part in any FA Cup ties that Villa contest from here until the end of the season.
He can't face parent club Chelsea on February 22 in the Premier League either, as nor can Rashford against United at Old Trafford on May 25 (4pm kick-off).
