LONDON, CMC – Former Manchester Metropolis defender and tv pundit Micah Richards believes Reggae Boy Leon Bailey is “within the type of his life” following his eleventh objective in all competitions for Aston Villa final weekend.
The 26-year-old netted the house facet’s closing objective at Villa Park as they brushed apart Nottingham Forest 4-2 to stay in stable rivalry for Champions League qualification in fourth.
Richards, who additionally completed his profession at Villa, mentioned Bailey’s tempo and motion made it exhausting for defenders.
“He’s all the time trying to cross ahead with a goal, with good tempo on the ball. He will get his reward for working so exhausting, and it was a stunning little tap-in to spherical off a superb efficiency,” Richards advised BBC’s Match-of-the-Day.
“He was good. Solely Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are above him, with 84 minutes per objective or help.
“He’s within the type of his life – that is what he confirmed at Leverkusen. That is what all of us wished to see.”
After a number of quiet seasons at Villa Park, Bailey has discovered favor and kind underneath Spanish supervisor Unai Emery to be one of many West Midlands membership’s main gamers this season.
He has scored eight targets within the Premier League and registered seven assists, with solely Liverpool’s Salah (24) and Metropolis’s Haaland (22) having extra mixed targets and assists.
Villa’s first objective on the weekend got here by Bailey’s enterprise down the best, taking out a defender earlier than crossing for Ollie Watkins’s simple tap-in.
“Leon Bailey was glorious. He talks about his supervisor, needs to be extra constant, and confirmed that …,” Richards continued.
“When he’s on the right-hand facet – and I’ve performed towards wingers like this – it’s all the time troublesome to defend once they can go each methods. He confirmed his intent, he was prepared for it, and every part he did was glorious.
“He can come somewhat deeper, sluggish it up, after which run into the area. A number of gamers now, once they develop, make the best choices.
“You suppose he’s going to go on his left foot, after which he goes on his proper foot. He was so assured inside the recreation.”
On the again of his glorious kind, Bailey signed an improved three-year deal earlier this month, which is able to see him stay on the membership till 2027, with the choice of a yr’s extension.
Associated
