Unai Emery is ‘happy’ with the commitment Leon Bailey is showing to offer what the Aston Villa manager wants. But he also admits the forward is ‘not being consistent’.
The 25-year-old has held a prominent presence in the Spaniard’s plans since Emery arrived at Villa Park. But Bailey has only delivered two goals and one assist over 16 Premier League appearances under the Spaniard. The 51-year-old has also started the winger in 12 games.
Bailey enjoyed his latest start on Tuesday night after returning to the Aston Villa line-up at Leicester City. Yet the Jamaican would end the night by going 10 top-flight fixtures without a goal. His 85th-minute replacement, Bertrand Traore, also struck the Villans’ winning goal.
Unai Emery is ‘waiting’ for Leon Bailey to be a regular goal threat at Aston Villa
Steven Gerrard had seen Bailey score once and create one goal during his 10 fixtures at the helm this term. The winger also hit home once and laid on an assist over two games under interim boss Aaron Danks before striking in Emery’s maiden match in charge in November.
Emery now admits he is still waiting to see Bailey reach the next level and produce regular goals for Aston Villa. But the 18-cap winger pleases the Villa Park boss with his desire and will to work on his game. Bailey’s readiness to help out defensively also impresses Emery.
“He’s working as well trying to help the team and trying to be a protagonist on the pitch,” Emery told Birmingham Live. “He’s not being consistent in his performance.
“But we are supporting and helping him and trying to be demanding with him. He’s doing it. Of course, I am waiting for his goals and assists.
“But, since the beginning, I’ve been pushing him to help the team defensively and being committed tactically in everything we want. He’s doing it. I’m happy with him because of his commitment to do everything that we’re demanding of him.”
Leon Bailey can be the regular goal threat the Spaniard is craving in Birmingham
Bailey has shown he can be the regular goal threat Emery is craving at Aston Villa. His work in the Villans’ wins against Brentford under Dank in October and Manchester United under Emery in November proved the Jamaican could score and create across quick-fire matches.
He was also a rapid and productive threat for Bayer Leverkusen before Dean Smith signed him for £30m in August 2021. The attacker fired home nine goals and created another nine in 30 Bundesliga matches during his final campaign at the BayArena in the 2020/21 season.
All in, he left Die Werkself with 28 goals and 21 assists in 119 German top-flight matches. It is not impossible, then, that Bailey can end Emery’s wait in Birmingham and be the regular goal threat the Aston Villa boss wants. But Bailey may need to rebuild his confidence first.
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