Forgotten Villa Winger Leon Bailey Emerges as Potential McGinn Replacement
In a surprising twist of fate, Aston Villa might be turning to a player they had seemingly moved on from to address a critical midfield shortage. With John McGinn sidelined by a medium-term injury and Boubacar Kamara also out long-term, manager Unai Emery faces a selection headache over the coming weeks.
From Roma Loan to Villa Park Recall?
Just a few weeks ago, Leon Bailey's future at Aston Villa appeared definitively over. The Jamaican winger had joined AS Roma on loan at the season's start with the Italian club holding a £19 million option to buy. That move quickly turned sour when Bailey suffered an injury in his very first training session in Italy.
His time in Serie A proved frustratingly brief, managing just one league start amid persistent fitness struggles. By the new year, he was clearly deemed surplus to requirements at Roma, who decided against activating their purchase option.
When questioned by BirminghamLive about Bailey's potential return earlier this month, Emery maintained a consistent position: "My opinion and our decision in the summer is now the same. We must keep him playing in Rome. He has had some injuries, because we have followed him in his process. Our idea is still the same - to be on loan there."
Changing Circumstances Force Reconsideration
However, Villa's injury crisis has altered the landscape dramatically. With McGinn joining Kamara on the treatment table, and other options like Evann Guessand struggling for form while younger players like Alysson develop, Bailey's experience suddenly looks more valuable.
Emery demonstrated his trust in the 27-year-old during Villa's recent match against Newcastle United, introducing Bailey when the team held just a 1–0 lead. In his 30-minute cameo, the winger made seven defensive contributions, won two ground duels, and completed 12 of his 14 passes, including one into the final third.
Following Buendia's Path to Redemption
Bailey could draw inspiration from teammate Emi Buendia's remarkable resurgence at Villa Park. Like Bailey, Buendia left on loan last year – to Bayer Leverkusen – with an option to buy that wasn't exercised. After remaining at Villa over the summer, he has become an integral part of Emery's squad this campaign, even scoring the opening goal against Newcastle before Ollie Watkins sealed the victory.
This parallel offers hope that Bailey, once considered a forgotten man at the club, could similarly revive his Villa career if given the opportunity. His positive ball retention and diligent defensive work suggest he could provide valuable cover during McGinn's absence.
European Registration Complications
One significant hurdle remains: Bailey cannot feature in Villa's Europa Conference League knockout matches against RB Salzburg. UEFA regulations permit clubs to register only three new players for the knockout stages after the winter transfer window closes, creating a selection dilemma for Emery in European competition.
Nevertheless, for domestic fixtures where Villa desperately need midfield reinforcement, Bailey's unexpected return from his Italian loan spell could provide timely solutions. His Premier League experience and familiarity with Emery's system might prove invaluable as Villa navigate this challenging period without two key midfielders.
