ASTON VILLA’S Lucy Staniforth is to miss the rest of the season due to an ankle issue, boss Carla Ward announced today.

Ward said the 31-year-old, who has 17 England caps, is set for surgery after suffering the “bizarre” injury in the warm-up prior to last week’s League Cup match against Sunderland.

Since then Villa have also lost Staniforth’s fellow midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown, with the youngster joining Manchester City on transfer deadline day.

Ward told a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Women’s Super League home clash with Bristol City: “Lucy Stan and Laura Brown have been ever-present in our midfield, so it’s a massive hole. Lucy has been excellent for us.

“It’s an injury that requires intervention and we’ll get that done on Wednesday and get her ready for pre-season.”

England Under-23 international Blindkilde Brown, 20, made her move with Villa saying City had triggered a “substantial” buyout clause in her contract.

Ward said: “I think naturally we’re disappointed with the Browny situation. When the call came in, I think the first thought is ‘absolutely no chance’.

“City hit that clause and then we sat down with Laura, and I think the fact that City’s midfield is in the position they’re in [with Jill Roord injured] and Laura’s got an opportunity to go in there and play straight away, go for a title and try to finish in the Champions League spots, it’s something for her as an individual she simply couldn’t turn down.

“She’s a fantastic talent. I think City have got a bargain. Personally I’m absolutely gutted that she’s no longer here.”

Ward’s press conference also saw her asked about the situation that has seen Manchester United lose their place in the League Cup after Villa fielded an ineligible player.

After Villa admitted the charge, having played the cup-tied Noelle Maritz in the 7-0 win over Sunderland, an independent tribunal on Monday deducted the three points and gave them to the Wearsiders, with the score being expunged.

That left Sunderland as Group A winners, and one of the two quarter-final berths for best group runners-up going to Villa rather than United.

United said they were “very disappointed with this outcome, and do not understand its rationale”, adding that they felt “it undermines the integrity of the competition, and of the women’s game.”

Asked about the tribunal’s decision and United’s response, Ward said: “I leave it to the people off the pitch to deal with that. My focus is the players on it.”