Aston Villa: BBC Sport pundit shares why Leon Bailey is not starting more regularly under Unai Emery
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…
Alan Hutton believes Leon Bailey is unlucky not to start more regularly for Aston Villa, but insists the decision is nothing personal from manager Unai Emery.
Bailey has started just five Premier League games for high-flying Villa this season, while featuring double the number of times from the substitutes’ bench.
The Jamaica international continues to make an impact when used, though, having now scored or assisted a goal in four successive league games.
Indeed, his 10 goals and assists combined in the top flight this season is second only to Ollie Watkins (15) among Villa players – three more than Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby [Sofascore].
Hutton reckons Bailey ticks every box you could possibly want from a wide player, and is confident he will be in contention to start against Sheffield United on Friday (22 December).
“You’d like to think so,” he told Villa News. “I think he’s always had the ability – that’s never been in doubt or in question.
“It’s always been a question of whether he can do it continuously, week after week after week, which I think he’s now doing. We’re now seeing that.
“Obviously, the manager likes to rotate and change things at certain times. I don’t know if that’s anything against Bailey, but more something [Emery] likes to do.
“But if you can produce when you’re asked to, that’s all you can do and that’s all he is doing.
“He’s explosive, can take players on, his delivery is excellent, so he ticks all the boxes and is a real standout performer, especially over recent weeks.”
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has shared what he finds “funny” following the Villans’ victory at Brentford last weekend.