Aston Villa will be on the road when domestic football returns at the weekend with a trip to Fulham starting off another heavy fixture load.
Unai Emery will be hoping his squad is as healthy as it can be because several of his players have had injury issues in recent weeks and months.
Everyone knows about Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara’s long-term injury issues and how they are now back in action for Aston Villa.
But from captain John McGinn to new summer signing Amadou Onana, far too many players have picked up little injuries here and there that have weakened the XI.
Before the international break, Villa recorded a tasteless draw against Manchester United, with the team struggling to beat a side on the ropes and probably on the verge of sacking their manager.
Leon Bailey started the game, but was subbed off after an hour after failing to make a meaningful impact.
It has to be said that Bailey hasn’t made the start to the season that he would have liked, but there is a reason behind that, as Emery revealed.
The Villa boss shared after the match that the winger ‘is not fit completely 100 per-cent’ and that he is also ‘not comfortable to play 90 minutes or feeling fit’, as he told Birmingham Live.
“Leon Bailey is progressively getting better, but he is not fit completely 100 per cent,” shared Emery. “He is having some injuries, not getting comfortable to play 90 minutes or feeling fit. Today after 60 minutes, he replaced him with Jaden on the right side.”
Leon Bailey in Aston Villa training ahead of Fulham clash
Villa fans will be excited to see Bailey in training ahead of the Fulham game, as pictures emerged from Instagram.
You have to ask, if he is still injured, feeling any pain or not 100%, then why would he be training now?
It’s perhaps a sign that his issues are behind him, this international break has done him the world of good and Bailey is probably ready to start at Fulham.
Leon Bailey looking to ignite his season
Bailey was outstanding for Villa last season and it was the best period of his career so far.
But you sense that he hasn’t really got going during these early few months and you feel his injury issues are reasons behind that.
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As soon as he can get going again, and you hope it happens at Craven Cottage, then it will help Villa massively.
The competition within the squad is as strong as ever, with the returning Jaden Philogene now pushing Bailey for a starting spot.
