Leon Bailey is coming off the back of a disappointing debut season at Aston Villa and may have an uncertain future under Steven Gerrard. The 24-year-old was signed by former manager Dean Smith last summer and would always play when fit, but he’s struggled for opportunities under Gerrard and doesn’t complement the system.
Dean Jones believes Villa could struggle to get Bailey working alongside Philippe Coutinho next season, though he admits the Jamaican international isn’t likely to be sold this summer. He told Give Me Sport: “It is difficult to understand how Leon Bailey fits in when also recruiting someone like Coutinho. (He) should not be included in any list of potential departures yet.”
Jones pondered whether Gerrard will keep Bailey in his plans moving forward, but his lack of playing time in 2022 gives an answer. The 24-year-old made 18/38 Premier League appearances this campaign, scoring one goal with two assists and amassing just 754 minutes of football.
Since the turn of the year, Bailey has started three league games and has played a full 90 minutes only twice. With Gerrard favouring central playmakers in a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2 system, there’s no room for wingers. And matters aren’t helped with the Jamaican international picking up so many injuries in his first season at Villa Park, so time will tell what Gerrard does with him.
In other news, Dean Jones ‘doubts’ whether Bertrand Traore will be at Aston Villa next season
