Leon Bailey could make his first start in the Premier League when Aston Villa host West Ham United on Sunday after returning from injury last week, per the Express and Star.
The Jamaican has struggled for fitness after a handful of injuries since completing a £25m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. He has only managed 129-minutes over four substitute appearances in the English top-flight so far, while missing five games.
Dean Smith was also without the 24-year-old for the Villans’ Carabao Cup ties with Barrow and Chelsea. But was able to call on Bailey for the second-half as Aston Villa lost at Arsenal last Friday, and saw the forward register his second assist of the season in the final stages.
Bailey had sat out Aston Villa’s prior three Premier League fixtures before facing Arsenal due to calf injury. He showed signs of tiring in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium but could now make his first start.
Aston Villa hope that a full week in training will allow Bailey to build enough fitness to open Sunday’s clash with West Ham. Smith is seeking to end a three-game league losing streak at home to the Hammers, who sit fourth at present.
Should Aston Villa start Bailey vs West Ham?
Aston Villa’s recent losing streak has seen the Birmingham outfit slip to 13th in the Premier League standings. Only Norwich (23), Newcastle (20), Watford (17) and Leeds (16) have conceded more than Villa (15) this term, as well.
West Ham will feel confident in adding more goals to the Villans’ record, with David Moyes’ men the fourth-most productive. The Irons have scored 16 goals so far, only Liverpool (27), Chelsea (23) and Manchester City (20) have more.
Bailey will likely not help Aston Villa’s defensive record much, but Smith will hope he can help stretch any lead. Despite his limited minutes so far, the attacker has scored once along with his two assists. He also created one against Everton, but was not given with the assist.
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