An Aston Villa player has the fewest minutes per goal contribution in the Premier League this season and it’s not who you might expect.
Fewest Minutes Per Premier League Goal Contribution
Who has quietly been the most efficient attacking player in the Premier League this season? Well, the answer may surprise you.
Forget Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-Min and the other usual suspects, because the answer is actually Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey, according to WhoScored.
Having signed for the club in 2021 for £30m from Bayer Leverkusen, the Jamaican’s form for the Villains has come in fits and starts.
However, of the players who have played over 500 minutes of Premier League football this season, Leon Bailey has the fewest minutes per goal contribution, as you can see below.
- Leon Bailey – every 61.6 mins
- Erling Haaland – every 71.9 mins
- Callum Wilson – every 74.8 mins
- Mohamed Salah – every 81.8 mins
- Ollie Watkins – every 99.3 mins
More predictably Haaland, Salah, Wilson and, Bailey’s Villa teammate, Watkins make up the remaining 4 spots on the list, but why is Bailey so high up?
Leon Bailey vs Brentford (Away) pic.twitter.com/jEDiMrykPL
— ✞ (@BaileyFC) December 19, 2023
How Has Leon Bailey Been So Efficient?
The answer lies in the fact that the Jamaican has not played a full 90 minutes in the Premier League all season, in fact, according to Transfermarkt, Bailey has only played 616 minutes across 15 appearances this campaign.
However, regularly used as a super-sub, Bailey has used his time on the pitch wisely, notching 10 goal contributions made up of 5 goals and 5 assists.
Bailey’s recent form in particular has seen him surge up the standings, having contributed 3 goals and 4 assists in his last 9 games alone.
His standout performance in Villa’s 1-0 win over treble-winners Manchester City was a particular highlight, as the Jamaican consistently tore the City defenders apart and scored the only goal of the game to complete Villa’s first triumph over their opponents since 2013.
Why Does Bailey Not Start For Aston Villa?
Bailey’s early career at Villa was blighted by niggly injuries, which could go some way to explain why he fails to complete 90 minutes on a regular basis.
In fact, in his first season, Bailey suffered injuries to his hamstring, quad, thigh and ankle, which ultimately limited him to just 7 starts.
However, in light of his recent performances for the Villains, it must be getting tough for Emery to leave him out of the starting eleven.
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