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Rushian Hepburn-Murphy has been axed from Aston Villa’s first-team after turning his back on a contract offer.

The 18-year-old featured in the defeat at Cardiff City because boss Steve Bruce was told he was close to signing a huge new bumper deal.

Hepburn-Murphy was expected to put pen-to-paper this week ending almost a year of negotiations.

But there has still been no breakthrough and Bruce has decided to withdraw him from the group ahead of the FA Cup third round trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

“He (Hepburn-Murphy) won’t be involved,” Bruce said.

“We have made a fantastic offer to the young boy but until he commits he won’t be involved.”

The Birmingham Mail understands that Villa have offered Hepburn-Murphy a massive pay-rise to keep him at the club.

His wages would become higher than any other Bodymoor Heath Academy graduate has ever received at his age.

But until he pledges his future to the club he’s been at since he was eight-years-old, Bruce will not include him in the senior set-up.

“I involved him (at Cardiff) because I was informed he would sign but he hasn’t yet.

“Until he commits then I won’t commit to him.

“I would rather get a young player in who will commit.”

Bruce was clearly angry at the situation when answering questions about Hepburn-Murphy’s future.

In the 1-0 defeat at Cardiff, the teenager was used as the final substitute as the manager decided to leave Jordan Ayew on the bench despite it being his last game before the African Nations.

A first-start would have been likely at Tottenham this weekend but Bruce has ended any hopes of that with immediate effect.

Of course the contract offer is still on the table and should Hepburn-Murphy finally decide to sign, Bruce will re-consider his stance and integrate him into the team.

Right now, though, it looks unlikely and further talks will have to take place to change the outcome.

Villa have continued to make efforts to keep him at the club but there’s only so much they can do.

Elsewhere, Mile Jedinak has shaken off an illness and will be fit for the trip to White Hart Lane.

Villa have no new injury worries but their squad is severely hampered with the loss of Ayew and Jonathan Kodjia to international duty.