Leon Bailey to start in Aston Villa clash v West Ham United as development emerges at Villa Park – BBC pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Leon Bailey could return to the Aston Villa starting line-up to play against West Ham on Sunday due to Boubacar Kamara’s injury, according to Alan Hutton.
Kamara, 23, went off with an ankle injury in Villa’s win over Crystal Palace last week and The Mirror has since reported via their print edition [8 March, page 58] that the France international could be missing for a month.
Bailey, 25, has been tipped to replace Kamara by Hutton, meaning that John McGinn would move into a more central position with the Jamaica international starting out wide at the London Stadium on 12 March.
“It just really depends on how Unai Emery wants to set up,” Hutton told Villa News.
“You could bring McGinn inwards and stick Bailey out wide but Emery likes that strength in midfield where it’s kind of four midfielders with the likes of Jacob Ramsey too.
“Emery’s got options there, different options that he can attack.
“But I like McGinn in the midfield and then possibly a more creative player out wide.
“I don’t think Emery’s going to struggle.”
Bailey has played 27 times in all competitions for Aston Villa this season, scoring five goals and supplying two assists
He’s started 19 of his 24 appearances in the Premier League but has been a substitute for two of his side’s last three games.
In other Aston Villa news, the club has been tipped to sign a new striker to aid their bid to return to European football.