‘I have just been unfortunate’
Bailey blames multiple injuries for slow first half of EPL season
Published:Wednesday | January 8, 2025 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
JAMAICAN INTERNATIONAL, Leon Bailey, has pointed the finger on injuries and a drop in confidence for his relatively low-key season with Aston Villa in the English Premier League (EPL).
Bailey broke his goalscoring duck for Villa this season, scoring the winner in a 2-1 win over Leicester on Saturday.
Villa coach Unia Emery is hoping the player will grow in confidence after this. However, Bailey who lamented his injury woes this term, says it might take some time to fully rebuild his confidence.
The Jamaican winger played a major role in Villa’s fourth-place finish in the EPL and helped them to the Europa Conference League semifinal last season through his 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, statistics only bettered by striker Ollie Watkins.
‘Feel confident again’
After getting his first goal, Emery hopes the 27-year-old can push on and rediscover his best form.
“We were speaking about it in the meeting we had for the match, about trying to find the goal, not really wishing to be anxious,” Emery said about Bailey and his first goal of the campaign.
“The first half, the only chance we had was something similar to his goal. Being calm, calm, choosing the best option in the final third and in the box. It was coming (first goal). Today he scored and for him it is fantastic after a long time not scoring.
“The most important thing is for the team. Even if we are winning without him scoring, we are happy, but it makes it better because he can feel confident again,” he said.
Bailey, who came under pressure from Villa fans after the previous game against Brighton, will himself look to use the winning goal and a first-half performance, in which he completed nine dribbles, created three chances and had seven shots to find some consistency.
Bailey became the first player to produce the numbers he did in the first hald of a Premier League match since Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal against Burnley 10 years ago.
Bailey has only started 12 of Aston Villa’s 20 league games.
“Players get injured and sometimes you don’t have confidence coming back from injury. People don’t remember, I have had three injuries since the season started but I have not missed a lot of games.
“I am still showing up for the team. I am not going to dwell too much on the past. We are back now, off the mark and now I am focused on getting points for the team.
“I have had a groin injury and two hamstring injuries. It is common knowledge when a player is stop-start, stop-start with injuries, coming back, your confidence level drops. It is normal. No player is coming back from injury with their confidence levels over the moon,” he said
It was the same situation with injuries after Bailey joined the club in the 2022-23 season, when he only delivered two goals and two assists, in all competitions.
He also pointed that during these difficult times, players need the support of the entire group to regain confidence.
“It is going to take time. Look at Jacob Ramsey. He is coming back, now he needs to start finding himself, get some minutes and start building up his confidence. It is like that for every player
“I have had three injuries this season and I am still there, still trying to come back. But I am back now and that is the most important thing. I am off the mark and let’s hope there are no more injuries for the rest of the season and we can rack up the goals and assists as much as possible.”
“The manager always tries to give the players confidence. It is not just me but all the players. He is a great manager. He knows how to get his team going. He knows the players who need to get confidence, who have been struggling. It is teammates as well. Everyone helps play a part in everyone trying to be at their best.”
Work harder
The player is now hoping for an injury-free second half of the season. But even if not a hundred per cent, he said he will try to help the team in anyway he can.
“I am a sprinter, a person who makes a lot of runs. I’ve had two hamstring injuries. But these things happen in football. We do a lot of work behind the scenes. But even while working, you can still be unfortunate. I have just been unfortunate in the first half of the season.
“Hopefully, we can change that in the second half of the season. It happens to the best of the best. It is football, you just have to accept it, work harder, come back and continue.
“That’s my character. I will try to play through and help the team as much as possible. If the coach needs me to be there I will try to be as ready as possible. Sometimes, you can’t. You have to let your body dictate what you can and can’t do. “Sometimes I am pushing myself too much and need to chill. But I am alright now, I am fine and back,” he said.
He also spoke about how good it felt to finally get on to the scoresheet.
“It is one of the most difficult things to get off the mark. I am so delighted I was able to do it. Hopefully, things can change and 2025 is my year.”