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Aston Villa 2017-18 player preview: Ross McCormack

Ross McCormack was signed to get the goals. He didn’t get the goals. What happens now?

Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest - Sky Bet Championship
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Ross McCormack of Villa in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on September 11, 2016 in Birmingham, England.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

If you’d have told me a year ago that Ross McCormack was Gary Goals, I might’ve believed you.

“MY NAMES GARY GOALS AND I AM THE TOP CLASS STRIKER + I WILL PLAY FOR YOUR TEAM!!!” the famous advert reads, and as far as Ross’ career before Villa went, it was a pretty apt description. In the two seasons before he joined, he scored 38 goals for Fulham. In the year before that move, he scored 28 for Leeds United; a previous year netted 18, too.

But what Villa fans saw last season wasn’t Gary Goals — it was what you’d expect the real life “had a trial at Doncaster Rovers (played against Wayne Rooney’s cousin)” Gary Goals to get if he actually tried to suit up for a Championship club. McCormack got just three goals, then was shipped off to Nottingham Forest unfit after he didn’t show up to training because his gate broke.

Now he looks out of the current plans. Could a loan move be in order? Or will Steve Bruce eventually be forced to play him after Gabby Agbonlahor returns to the Gabby of the last few years?