Aston Villa journalist thinks Dean Smith could struggle to find a place for Leon Bailey | OneFootball

Aston Villa journalist Luke Hatfield believes Dean Smith could struggle to find a place for Leon Bailey if he decides to stick with a back three this season.

Villa have used a back three in their last couple of league fixtures in order to accommodate two strikers, Ollie Watkins and new signing Danny Ings.

Such a tactic leaves little room for wingers like Bailey who like to play extremely high up the pitch, with Smith so far preferring more defensive options like full-backs Matt Targett and Matty Cash for those wide positions in the system.

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Bailey, however, was given a chance in the recent 3-0 win over Everton when he came off the bench and did not disappoint after managing to grab a goal. For Hatfield, though, in this current set-up, things are not going to be straightforward for the 24-year-old.

“It’s not to say we won’t see Leon Bailey starting regularly,” the Express & Star reporter said to FFC. “I think we could well do because he signed for big money and he’s obviously a very talented player.

“But it’s interesting when you’re playing three at the back because it’s going to be hard to find a place for him. It’s a real task for Dean Smith.”

With Bailey set to be out of action for the next three weeks due to injury, it is not something Smith currently has to worry about. But later down the line, it will be interesting to see how the former Brentford boss does fit in all these attacking options.