Leon Bailey sent 'frustrated' warning ahead of crucial Aston Villa season

Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has warned Leon Bailey to find his best form under Steven Gerrard next season.

Bailey signed for Villa in a £30million switch from Bayer Leverkusen last summer but struggled to justify his large price tag in claret and blue last term. Besides an impressive cameo in the 3-0 home win over Everton last September, the Jamaica international showed little more under Dean Smith or Steven Gerrard.

He made just 18 appearances for Villa last season after a number of injury problems hampered his progress during the first Premier League campaign of his career. His move to England came after his most productive Bundesliga season as he registered 18 goal contributions in 30 games for Leverkusen and Agbonlahor thinks he must earn his place in the first XI given the amount of competition in forwards areas in Gerrard's squad.

Agbonlahor told the website Football Insider: "The Leon Bailey that we all saw at Bayer Leverkusen is a top, top player. He’s quick, can score from anywhere, has a bullet of a left foot and can dribble.

"So, everyone who supports Aston Villa and all the coaching staff want to see him finally do it. They paid big money for him and he has to [step up]. There’s a lot of competition for places in that team with the formation that Gerrard likes to play so he has to earn the right to start.

"He has to start the season flying otherwise everyone is going to get frustrated. We all know what sort of player is in there, he just has to show it now."