Leon Bailey was handed a second consecutive Premier League start in Aston Villa’s 2-0 win over Norwich City but failed to see out the game after picking up an ankle injury.
The 24-year-old was withdrawn after 39 minutes and will be given an MRI scan to assess the muscle damage, but Steven Gerrard isn’t expecting to have him available for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
It’s the fourth injury Bailey has suffered in his debut campaign at Villa and may give Steven Gerrard something to think about when building the squad for next season.
Upon his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, Bailey was a doubt to make his debut in Villa’s first league game of the season as he was isolating. He played 30 minutes in the 3-2 defeat to Watford (August 14) and grabbed an assist but was absent for their next three games in all competitions due to a hamstring injury.
The Jamaican international returned for Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea (September 11) and 3-0 win over Everton (September 18) but suffered a setback against the Toffees which would keep him out for four games across the board.
Bailey would go on to play in six consecutive league games for Villa but came off in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City (December 1) due to a thigh injury, causing him to miss nine matches.
He returned in mid-February and enjoyed his longest run without an issue (9 appearances from a possible 11), but Bailey’s ankle problem now threatens to cut his season short. He’s already missed 16 games.
Villa need not risk him aggravating the injury when their success in the league won’t hinge in his fitness, so Bailey might not play again this season out of precaution.
The Midlands outfit £25m for the Jamaican last summer and have only got one goal out of him in 13 months, so will a ruthless manager like Gerrard stick by him for another season?
In other news, Paul Robinson says Steven Gerrard will sign Philippe Coutinho despite poor form
