Steven Gerrard hatches Leon Bailey plan as Aston Villa decision teased

Steven Gerrard insists Leon Bailey is a "big talent" and wants to give the Jamaica international more game time from now until the end of the season so he can get into a rhythm.

Bailey has featured in all five of Villa's previous games leading up to the Premier League clash with Norwich City this weekend. However, he has started just two of the club's last 18 league fixtures, mainly due to a thigh injury which saw him miss over nine weeks of action.

The 24-year-old joined Villa from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for £25million last summer, but he has struggled to justify his price tag so far as injuries and a lack of match fitness as a result have affected his first Premier League campaign. But Bailey has shown flashes of brilliance in brief cameo appearances since the start of the season and Gerrard thinks there is much more to come from him.

Asked if he needs a run in the team to get into a rhythm, Gerrard said: "I think that if you asked Leon, that’s what he wants and craves. I was pretty pleased with his performance last week, he should have scored early on after six or even minutes to put us in the lead.

"He might put that down to a lack of game time and rust and getting in the rhythm. But Leon is a big talent and we want to keep him moving, keep giving him game time and the opportunity get back in his own rhythm.

"We know that when he is in that rhythm he’s a top player. I haven’t confirmed my team to the boys for obvious reasons and I haven’t confirmed it to any of my staff, you know, a couple of hours before the game I’ll confirm that team and you’ll have to wait and see what options I decide."