Aston Villa’s dynamic winger and Jamaica international, Leon Bailey, has been dealt a concerning blow ahead of the Reggae Boyz’s upcoming Nations League fixtures, following a hamstring injury sustained during Villa’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Bailey was substituted early in the first half after appearing to injure himself while lunging to block a pass. Aston Villa’s head coach, Unai Emery, confirmed the injury in a post-match interview with the Birmingham Mail.
“It is a hamstring injury. I don’t know exactly how bad it is right now. He came off the pitch in discomfort,” Emery stated.
This injury comes at a pivotal moment for Bailey, who was recently recalled to the Jamaica national squad by new head coach Steve McClaren, just in time for the Concacaf Nations League matches against Cuba and Honduras. The Reggae Boyz are scheduled to face Cuba on Friday, followed by a critical away game against Honduras four days later.
Bailey’s return to the national team has been highly anticipated, especially after a hiatus since November 2023. His absence was due to a suspension imposed by former coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and a self-imposed break during which Bailey declined a call-up for Copa America in June.
The 27-year-old winger, who had an outstanding season with Aston Villa last year, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in the Premier League, was expected to be a vital asset for the Reggae Boyz in their Nations League campaign.
The extent of Bailey’s injury and his potential availability for the national team matches remains uncertain. Both Aston Villa and the Jamaica national team staff are likely to closely monitor his situation in the coming days.
