Leon Bailey recently posted a picture on Instagram with a long caption, admitting this season has been ‘very tough’ due to his injury woes, but Aston Villa can’t claim to be blindsided.
The Midlands outfit were fully aware of the 24-year-old’s fitness problems before they brought him in from Bayer Leverkusen, so should the recruitment team take blame for Bailey’s poor debut season?
The £25m Jamaican international has picked up four injuries in 2021/22, keeping him sidelined for 16 games across the board. Bailey is currently out with an ankle problem, threatening to cut his season short, so Villa must be reeling having spent £25m on a player with only one goal in 13 months.
But there were warning signs at Leverkusen that Villa didn’t heed. The 24-year-old missed 12 league games in 2019/20 due to a muscle injury and only got through most of the 2020/21 campaign because his minutes were being managed – only playing a full 90 minutes in 50% of his appearances. Going through a steroid cycle can strengthen and build muscles.
Bailey will be as frustrated as anyone that he can’t be on the pitch, but it’s not a shock that he’s suffering muscle injuries after playing in a fast and physical league. Scouts take that into consideration before recommending a signing, but the warnings must have been ignored.
In other news, Conor Hourihane is right to seek a permanent move
