Ross Barkley was hooked by Dean Smith for the third consecutive game on Saturday and may wonder whether he’ll lose his place in the Aston Villa side after struggling to recapture his early-season form.
The 27-year-old scored two goals and provided one assist in his first five Premier League appearances for Villa but has managed only one goal and zero assists in his last seven (Transfermarkt).
Barkley was withdrawn in the second half in Villa’s 0-0 draw with Brighton and Birmingham Live gave him the lowest post-match rating among the Villa players for his performance.
Dean Smith came to the 27-year-old’s defence in the aftermath, though, telling Birmingham Live:
It’s been a really difficult time for Roscoe because he got injured against Brighton earlier in the season and missed eight weeks with his injury. And when he was due to come back, we had a Covid outbreak at the training ground (so) he was the only fit person available to train.
Unfortunately, we’ve gone straight into six games in 18 days and zero days training because we were just recovering, so it’s been a really tough time for him to get the training minutes to (boost) his sharpness. He’s been trying to get his sharpness in the games. I could have taken any one of the outfielders off (against Brighton). He’ll be back to his best, I’m sure of it.
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Smith doesn’t appear to be giving up on Barkley, but his faith in the England international is not being vindicated right now – he has scored just one league goal since October and hasn’t supplied an assist since November (Transfermarkt).
Barkley isn’t providing much without the ball, either, having failed to make a successful tackle since October while recording just one interception in the last four months (WhoScored), so what is he bringing to the Villa side right now?
Morgan Sanson came in on Barkley’s stead against Brighton and looked like he had a point to prove, so Smith has a difficult decision to make ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Leicester City.
Barkley has been unfortunate with injury and a busy schedule robbing him of extended time on the training ground, but Smith doesn’t have to keep starting him.
Jack Grealish can operate in Barkley’s central playmaking role and Anwar El Ghazi or Trezeguet could then be given a chance on the left wing, so that could be a potential solution until the on-loan 27-year-old turns things around.
