Harvey Elliott's troubled loan at Aston Villa appears to have gone from bad to worse with the Liverpool star left out of their squad entirely for the visit of Manchester City in the Premier League.
Elliott has not started a game for Villa in almost a month and did not make it off the substitutes' bench for Unai Emery in any of their last three matches.
But now his position as a squad exile has intensified after being overlooked for selection in the squad against City.
Elliott, 22, has a £35million obligation to buy included in his Villa deal but now major questions are being raised about his future and reports this week claimed that obligation would only be triggered if he makes 10 appearances.