Angry Villa fans rev up Twitter on Bailey call-up
British team’s supporters voice injury concerns, labelling internationals ‘an absolute joke’
REGGAE BOY Leon Bailey is the latest Jamaican player being subjected to the club versus country controversy, with supporters of his English Premier League club, Aston Villa, expressing anger and fear over the player’s international call-up.
The 24-year-old Bailey, who signed for Villa from German club Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for 24 million pounds, has been restricted to just five of his team’s English Premier League (EPL) games this season due to an injury that he has been nursing since the Concacaf Gold Cup earlier this year.
The injury also forced the Jamaican to miss his country’s first five World Cup qualifiers. However, Bailey appears to be getting back to full fitness, with back-toback games in the Premier League for the first time this season.
Also for the first time since qualification began, he is considered fit enough for Jamaica selection and has been named to a 24-man Reggae Boyz squad to face El Salvador in San Salvador on the Friday and the United States in Kingston on November 16.
However, Villa fans, who see Bailey as a key asset to their team, have expressed frustration and concern on Twitter at his Jamaica call-up this time, given his delicate injury situation.
“Please don’t get hurt,” pleaded Clifford Stewart, a fan, as it was announced that the player would be away for international duties.
Catrinavfc wrote: “He’s gonna get injured isn’t he,” while LionsVilla shared “Welp!! that’s him coming back hurt.”
Others insist that the international break causes too many problems for clubs and referred to the current international calendar as a ‘joke’.
“Terrible news,” Spratzer commented,” while Tim52188516 said: “Internationals are causing real problems. There isn’t normally this many. It’s the last thing we need just as he (Bailey) is nearly back at full fitness.”
Kelly McNicholas, also argued that international breaks are hurting the performance of clubs in their respective competitions. “Far too many (internationals) to gather momentum for teams,” he pointed. Pagan __13 added :“Inter nationals are becoming a joke,” and AV1874, went further, describing international fixtures as “an absolute joke”.
In only a handful of Premier League matches, Bailey has demonstrated why he is such an exciting prospect and a key figure for Villa, having scored once and provided two assists in his five matches.
Villa coach Dean Smith was fired after the team’s last match, a 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Friday. The team has also tasted defeat in their last five outings.