Ross McCormack: Aston Villa release £12m striker a year early

Ross McCormack last played for Aston Villa in an EFL Cup defeat by Middlesbrough in September 2017

Aston Villa have released striker Ross McCormack, almost two years after he last appeared for the club.

McCormack joined Villa from Fulham for £12m in August 2016 but scored just three times in 20 league appearances.

He spent time on loan in Australia with Central Coast Mariners and in Scotland with Motherwell in 2018-19.

Villa have now released nine players since they won promotion to the Premier League with victory over Derby in last week's Championship play-off final.

During his spell with the Mariners the Scotland international briefly played up front with Jamaican Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt, who was on trial with the club during his bid to become a professional footballer.

The 32-year-old, who last played for Villa in September 2017 and had a year left on his deal, called his time with the West Midlands side "a bit of a shambles" in an interview with BBC Sport Scotland in January.