Forget Coutinho: Gerrard could have a secret weapon at Villa in "very rare" £30m gem - opinion

Leon Bailey is primed for a big season at Aston Villa this season.

The 24-year-old winger has already given supporters some fighting talk, posting a highlight reel to Instagram, alongside a caption that said (via Birmingham Mail):

“Talk the same talk you did last season. New season incoming, I’m coming for everything they said I couldn’t achieve, mark my words,” he warned the rest of the Premier League.

Bailey completed 90 minutes in the Premier League only three times and was limited to just 18 appearances in total. He missed the final five matches of last season with an ankle issue, though he returned to goalscoring form for Jamaica in the subsequent international break.

In fact, manager Steven Gerrard has only been able to call upon the former Bayer Leverkusen star 12 times, averaging only 38.5 minutes per appearance.

There’s a reason that the Villa hierarchy splashed around £30m on Bailey’s signature. He was in fine form in Germany, where he delivered a whopping 15 goals and 11 assists from 40 matches during his final campaign at the BayArena.

The Jamaican international needs to keep fit and then he can be something of a secret threat for Gerrard, given that he has hardly seen the pitch under the former Rangers boss.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has backed the winger to set the ground alight this campaign, suggesting that he would be “like a new signing” to GIVEMESPORT:

“Fitness issues prevented Villa fans from seeing the best of him, but I’m sure he will be hungry to prove a point this season and can show he can be a top performer for Aston Villa because he’s definitely got it in him, and he could almost be like a new signing for Villa if he goes and hits the ground running.”

Bailey’s best position is on the right