Leon Bailey is confident he will recapture the form he showed last season as Aston Villa strive to regain a top-four spot.
The Jamaican was one of the key men as Villa qualified for the Champions League in 2023-24 but he has struggled for form and fitness this term.
Villa’s search for another attacker in the January transfer window could make Bailey’s life trickier yet the winger insists he is ready to answer Unai Emery’s call.
‘I have been trying since the season started but it has been difficult,’ said Bailey, whose goal in the 2-1 win over Leicester was his first of the season. ‘I have been in a period where I knew what I needed was to get off the mark. I finally did that so now let’s hope things can change in 2025 going on to the rest of the season.
‘Sometimes you have teams who do well one season and fall off completely in the second. But we are still there, we are still in the race, still competing to finish in the European positions. We are really happy with our process so far but we know we have a long way to go. But we are confident we can be there.’
Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey is confident he can recapture the form he showed last season
Unai Emery’s side, who are looking to finish in the top four again, beat Leicester 2-1
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is eager for signings out wide and in the full-back positions
Leicester have now lost five in a row and boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is desperate for reinforcements out wide and in the full-back positions.
The Foxes would like to end the loan agreement for Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard but as things stand they are reliant on the Eagles choosing to recall him. Edouard was not even in the squad at Villa.