Leon Bailey is currently out on loan at AS Roma from Aston Villa, and recently returned from injury
Leon Bailey at AS Roma on loan from Aston Villa
Leon Bailey at AS Roma on loan from Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
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Leon Bailey is looking to "turn things around" after a nightmare start to his loan spell at AS Roma.
The Italian club signed Bailey in August, but he suffered an injury during his first training session with his new team.
The setback saw him miss the first two months of the campaign, but he made his debut against Inter earlier this month and has since also featured against Viktoria Plzen and Sassuolo.
“I’m adapting. I’ve been out for a long time, and I also have to get to know the coach, his style of play, his ideas,” Bailey told Corriere dello Sport.
In Roma’s most recent match, against Sassuolo, Bailey made his first start, but was disappointed with his own performance.
“My performance could have been better, I can’t be satisfied,” he said. “The goal is to reach my highest level, and with many games left I can achieve that.
“I know the Champions League has been missing here for too long, so my priority is to bring Roma back to that stage.”
Speaking about his injury struggles at the start of the season, Bailey said: “I had to respect my body, Gasp’s decisions and those of the medical staff. Now I want to turn things around.”
Roma have an option to buy Bailey for £19 million next summer, so it’s in Villa’s interest that the winger is able to recapture his form as the campaign progresses.
Of course, they’ll be hoping that doesn’t come at the expense of Villa’s own Europa League ambitions, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side also among the favourites to lift the trophy come May.
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