3 days Ago By [email protected] (John Townley)
Leon Bailey has travelled with his teammates to Switzerland for Aston Villa's first Champions League league phase clash against Young Boys. The winger suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of Villa's 2-1 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium over a fortnight ago. He lunged in an attempt to block a pass, but felt his hamstring go and came off.
Bailey subsequently pulled out of national team duty with Jamaica and missed Villa's win over Everton at Villa Park on Saturday. In his press conference ahead of the Premier League clash with the Toffees, Villa manager Unai Emery didn't completely rule Bailey out of making the squad, but the 27-year-old wasn't named in the team after a late assessment. BUY | Get your Aston Villa special pull-out ahead of Champions League adventure READ | Why Unai Emery substituted Amadou Onana as Aston Villa boss explains what he will never do Emery will speak to the media at the Wankdorf Stadium later today and may give an update on Bailey, who appears set to return to the squad.
It comes as a big boost for Villa, who face Wolves this coming Saturday following Tuesday night's clash with Young Boys. Villa won 3-2 against Everton last time out after Jhon Duran came off the bench to complete the comeback. Ollie Watkins scored twice to get Villa back on level terms after Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Sean Dyche's side ahead inside 27 minutes.
Young Boys are without a win after six league games this term and sit bottom of the Swiss Super League. The Swiss champions will host Villa on an artificial pitch, so Emery's players will train on it today in preparation for the change. What is your Young Boys vs Villa score prediction? Tell us here Buy your special Aston Villa Champions League pull-out To mark the return of Aston Villa's status as a participant in Europe's elite club competition, we've produced this print special which is available to all supporters.
We look at how Unai Emery - who is no stranger to winning European trophies - can lead Villa deep into the competition, and the players who will be key to their campaign, while breaking down their opposition in the league stage. Of course, we also turn the clock back to 1982 and that famous win in Rotterdam. Order your copy here and get it delivered direct to your door.
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