Leon Bailey has posted on Instagram that he is now ‘looking forward’ to Aston Villa’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth after a strong pre-season.
The all-action winger was on the scoresheet again on Saturday, as Villa finished off pre-season by beating Rennes 2-1 in France, with Diego Carlos scoring the winning goal.
Throughout last season, Bailey struggled to say on the pitch, with injuries and the intensity of England’s top-flight proving too much to handle for the Dean Smith signing.
When Bailey has been out on the pitch, and able to motor at full speed, then Villa fans have very much liked what they have seen.
But, unfortunately, they have seen very little of that, although, pre-season has gone very well for the player, mainly from a fitness perspective because he has had no issues.
Now it’s time for the main event and that’s the start of the Premier League season next week, as Bailey sent the following message to fans.
BAILEY TO START AT BOURNEMOUTH?
The issue Steven Gerrard is facing heading into that Bournemouth clash is that fans are still questioning the front two – Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings.
Villa supporters feel that more life needs to be injected into the attacking third, with calls for Emiliano Buendia to start, but it seems as though that won’t happen.
But one player that has to start against the newly-promoted side is Bailey because he could argue that he has been Villa’s best player in pre-season.
If he can stay out of the treatment room and showcase why so much was paid for his talents, then he will feel like a new signing ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Either way, if the Midlands outfit start the first few games in a blunt fashion, then fans will want another attacker added in the transfer market, if not, then they can look forward to a potentially strong season.
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