Aston Villa star aiming to make 2025 his year after ending goal drought

The Jamaica international scored for the first time since April when he bagged the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Leicester City and later admitted relief at ending his long drought.

Bailey was one of Villa’s star players last season, scoring 14 times in all competitions but has struggled to get going this term after being hit by three different injuries in the opening months.

He said: “I am feeling great. It is one of the most difficult things to get off the mark and I am so delighted I was able to do it. 

“Hopefully things can change and 2025 is my year.”

Bailey believes his inconsistent form can largely be put down to fitness struggles which saw him suffer two hamstring injuries and a groin problem in the opening half of the campaign.

Yet the 27-year-old has still managed to make 23 appearances for Unai Emery’s team and said: “I have had three injuries since the season started but I have not missed a lot of games, which is important. I am still showing up for the team. 

“I am not going to dwell too much on the past. We are back now, off the mark and now I am focused on getting points for the team.

“It is common knowledge when a player is stop-start, stop-start with injuries, coming back, your confidence level (is low). 

“It is normal. No player is coming back from injury with their confidence levels over the moon. It is going to take them time. 

“But I am back now and that is the most important thing. I am off the mark and let’s hope there are no more injuries for the rest of the season and we can rack up the goals and assists as much as possible.”

Saturday’s win ensured Villa remain within striking distance of the Premier League’s top-five and while acknowledging they must improve, Bailey believes they are still very much in the race for European football.

“It wasn’t the best first part of the season but hopefully in the second half we can turn things around and get back to where we need to be,” he said.

“It is football. Sometimes you struggle. But the most important thing is we are still there. 

“That is a team showing character and sometimes you have teams who do well one season and fall off completely in the second. 

“But we are still there, we are still in the race, still competing to finish in the European positions. We are really happy with our process so far but we know we have a long way to go. We are confident we can be there.”