Ashley Young pleased with recovery process after injury setback

 Ashley Young claims he is making good progress on his recovery from a knee injury.

Young joined Old Trafford from Aston Villa in the summer for a fee believed to be around £18 million, but has been out of action since December 21 after sustaining a knee problem in the 5-0 win over Fulham.

The England international may not be back in first-team action until February, with Sir Alex Ferguson claiming he’d be out for another month on January 8, but Young is optimistic over his recovery.

Speaking at the Betfair presents Man Utd live webcast at Old Trafford, Young said: "It's going well. I've been in the gym most days but it's getting there and hopefully I'll be back soon.”

Young has been buoyed by the start to his Old Trafford career and claims that the standard required to compete for a place at Manchester United has improved his ability.

"I'm enjoying it," he said. "From the minute I stepped into the building, I was welcomed with open arms by everybody in the squad.

"All the staff have been brilliant and to play alongside so many world-class players was always a dream for me.

"It brings your game on and you go up to another level. You experience that straight away. There's competition for places all around the team so you've always got to be on your toes.

"I think my game has come on. I've added different things to my game. Obviously, we're playing a different style than it was at Aston Villa and I've had to adapt.

"When I've gone away with England and the likes of Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, I've got to know the boys there and how they play."

The midfielder is also eagerly anticipating the trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal on Sunday, even though it remains extremely unlikely that he’ll be able to play any part.

United currently sit second in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Manchester City, while Arsene Wenger's lie in fifth, four points off a Champions League place.

"It's going to be a tough game, but I'm sure we'll go down there full of confidence and looking to get three points - as we do in any game," said Young.

"There's a lot of points to play for and everyone wants to be top of the table but there's plenty of games left and we've got to concentrate on ourselves and look to go down there and win."

Bright Young Thing: 'They said I was too small, so I asked to stay and play part-time for free.'

By MARTIN SAMUEL

Ashley Young, 16 years old and in Year 11 at John Henry Newman, a Roman Catholic secondary school in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is sitting in the office of a careers adviser.

She asks him what he wants to do. He says he wants to be a footballer. 

She looks sceptical. His face does not crack. Utter conviction. She shuffles a few papers, scans his GCSE results and repeats the question, adding that it might not work out for him in his chosen profession. What is the alternative? The teenager remains adamant. He has a dream and intends to live it.

The careers expert is in no mood for childish indulgences. What if his plan is not realised? Throwing a bone, Young replies that he might look to do something with sports science. Ah, this is better. Realism at last. What exactly with sports science? 

'I said I didn’t know because I hadn’t thought about it and I hadn’t thought about it because it didn’t matter because I was going to become a footballer,’ Young, 10 years older and a somewhat justified shining light for Manchester United and England, explains. 

‘So she started again, a fourth time, with the question about it not working out. She wasn’t happy. Even less so when I got up and walked out of the room.’

You left?

‘Yeah. Got up, walked out, went back to my classroom and sat there for a while. We were going around in circles. She wouldn’t accept what I was saying and I wouldn’t accept anything other than positive thoughts about my career, so that was the end of our meeting. I got five GCSEs, but I knew what I wanted to do. I had the drive. It was all I thought about. What was the point of looking at it any other way?’

Young’s determination at the time was made all the more remarkable by another meeting that had taken place previously. It was with four coaches attached to Watford’s youth and academy system: Dave Hockaday, David Dodds, John McDermott and Chris Cummins. They sat with Young in a  private room after a youth team match and it was there he discovered he was not to be offered a professional youth training scheme contract. It felt like the end of his world.

‘I hadn’t had the best season leading up to that,’ recalls Young, ‘but Watford had been my club since I was 10. I knew every inch of the place. The news hit me like nothing before. I went home and just sat frozen in the same chair for the rest of the day, staring. I don’t think it sank in until the next morning.

Villa fullback Hutton: Man Utd's Young now among best in world

Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton says Ashley Young is now one of the best wingers in the world following his move to Manchester United.

Young is back at Villa Park tonight for their clash with his old club.

Hutton told The Sun: "I suspect I'm going to walk off the pitch mentally and physically shattered.

"I've played against Ashley before and he's one of those wingers who can give you real problems. I'll have to be at my very best to contain him. He's right up there with the best wingers in the world.

"He's established himself as a first choice for England which is no easy thing. Ashley has the lot now, every attribute a world-class winger needs. He has pace to burn, he can cross, he can take defenders on, so it's going to be a difficult evening.

"But these are the big games you want to play in to show what you can do. Mentally, 90 minutes is a long time to be responsible for covering such a gifted player. It's not just a case of matching him physically, stride for stride and covering the same amount of ground as he does.

"You are constantly thinking about him and being aware of where he is and what he's doing at any given time. It's full-on concentration for 90 minutes plus injury time and it's demanding. You might only switch off once and let him in behind you. But that could turn out to be the match-winning moment which separates the teams.

"If I do my job properly I expect to be shattered at the end of 90 minutes. But if I have good game Ashley will come off the park mentally and physically drained, too, because he hasn't found a way to get past me. That's the aim anyway. I love going forward and I'd like to think I could get Ashley on his heels, chasing me back. But I also realise, as a full-back, my first duty is to defend and win my own personal battles."

Young: Brother Kyle at Arsenal better than me

Ashley Young has again admitted kid brother Kyle could be something special.

Young has two young brothers making their way in the game.

Lewis Young, 22, is at Northampton Town, while Kyle Young, 15, is coming through the academy at Arsenal.

"He may well be the best of all of us," says his older sibling to the Daily Mail. "I wouldn’t tell him that, though, because he spends enough time saying it himself."

Chelsea ace Mata impressed by Man Utd's Young this season

Juan Mata admits Manchester United star Ashley Young has impressed him this season.

Mata discussed his first months in the Premier League in a video on his Facebook site.

"Young is the biggest surprise for me," said Mata. "He is extremely quick and very direct."

He also said: "Josh McEachran has great quality and will soon play for England."

How Ashley Young could shine at the top of a Manchester United diamond in 2011-12

By Jonathan Birchall

It was hardly taken at a canter but Manchester United’s path to the Premier League title had a sense of inevitability about it long before the season came to an end.

However, it was somewhat fitting that the best team in the land secured their 19th title through a questionable penalty and a scrappy performance away to relegation battlers Blackburn as 2010-11 was no Red Devils vintage.

The temptation would be to say that Sir Alex Ferguson won’t care as long as the trophy cabinet at Old Trafford bulges, but it is the pursuit of perfection that he craves, not merely doing enough to scrape by – and last season’s stats tell their own story.

In 2009-10, Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea scored 103 goals on the way to the title. Only a point behind, United hit the back of the net 86 times. Last season’s champions, however, scored 25 goals fewer than the team that they displaced at English football’s summit with a mere 78 and finished with six points less than when they had finished as runners-up 12 months earlier.

Furthermore, United kept possession more successfully in 2009-10 than a year later and averaged more shots per game despite the addition of undoubted success story Javier Hernandez.

With the Mexican in blistering form and Wayne Rooney resurgent, the question of United’s relative timidity in front of goal begs the question of where the problem lies.

Ashley Young to remain on the left wing for Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Ashley Young will continue to play on the left wing for Manchester United.

Young had moved into a central role for Aston Villa and England last season but impressed on his Premier League debut for his new club out wide.

Sir Alex told Manchester United's official website: "Ashley can play in different positions but I'm not saying it's going to happen at the moment.

"He's filling the left-hand side very well but there's options to play him right or off the front.

"The option to play him centrally is not looking great for him, though, with Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Dimitar Berbatov plus even Ryan Giggs can play there. So we're looking more at the wide positions for him."

Sir Alex, however, suggested that Young may have a long and fruitful career because of his versatility.

He continued: "It can help a player in terms of the consistency of playing. John O'Shea, for instance, wasn't in a starting position all the time but, because of his versatility, he made nearly 400 appearances for us in his career here."

Young: I turned down Man Utd in January to keep Villa up

Ashley Young admits Manchester United first came in for him in January.

The United winger revealed he chose to stay with Aston Villa to help them avoid the drop.

He told manutd.com: "I actually found out about it in January. At the time we were in a bit of a sticky situation at Villa and in a battle to stay up, so the clubs said they’d talk again in the summer and see where things were.

"There were other clubs interested but as soon as I heard about the interest from United I just wanted to get here and sign. I knew it was the right club. Everyone, not just the players but all the staff as well, made me feel very welcome from day one."

Young confesses: I was Arsenal mad

Ashley Young admits he grew up a huge Arsenal fan.

Young has claimed it is not so odd for a Gunners fan to find himself wearing the red of an altogether different set of trophy contenders.

"Ian Wright was my hero," he said.

"But even then, if you asked most kids which team they would like to play for, quite a lot would say Manchester United.

"People judge me differently because I am at the biggest club in the world.

"I could tell the difference as soon as I got there.

"I wanted to go a club where I could win titles and medals and play in the biggest competitions. I have a chance to do that now."

Young happy to muck in with lively Man Utd locker room

Ashley Young has settled quickly at Old Trafford.

Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are the leading dressing room pranksters following the retirement of Paul Scholes.

Young knows both men from their time together with England, and the winger is confident he will hold his own once he gets used to his new surroundings.

"I am pretty lively and quite loud," Young told Inside United.

"When you come to a new club it takes a little while for you to work out how things are but I am a bit of a joker around the dressing room."

Young spoke to his England teammates when United came in for him at Aston Villa.

"I did speak with them," he said of those international chats.

"When you are away with England, you always talk about life at your club.

"Everything I heard about United was fantastic. The lads told me how much I would enjoy playing here.

"I have always had confidence in myself and believed I could play at the highest level.

"Some people said I couldn't, but they also said I couldn't play for England so that didn't bother me."

Young: Meeting Sir Alex nerve-wracking

Ashley Young says moving to Manchester United has been easy, except for one factor.

Young claims to be nerveless about the whole venture, apart from his first meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson that is, when his likely position was not mentioned.

"I am not normally someone who gets nervous but I was this time," he laughed with Inside United.

"As soon as I met him though, my nerves disappeared. He used the word challenge a lot. That is something I have done throughout my career.

"I will be happy wherever the manager wants to play me. I played left, right and behind the main striker at Villa. Being versatile is something I enjoy."

Man Utd place Young on weights programme to bulk up

Manchester United have put Ashley Young on a strict weights programme to bulk up.

The England winger has immediately started to justify his £16million move from Aston Villa - and £130,000-a-week salary - by impressing in pre-season matches, says the Mirror.

He is now desperate for his first goal for United and is also trying to put on weight.

Young, 26, has always been slightly built, but is trying to beef up ahead of a big season for club and country.

The player has already been pictured pumping iron with his new United team-mates.

No brainer for Young to leave Villa for Manchester United berth

Ashley Young had already made his mind up to join Manchester United once he knew of their interest.

With his Aston Villa contract due to expire at the end of the coming season, it was always he would be leaving Villa Park.

And the 26-year-old had already decided where his future lay. It was just a question of confirming his £17million switch to Old Trafford.

"There was never any doubt once I knew United were interested," Young said. "When one of the biggest clubs in the world comes after you, whether to sign for them or not is a no-brainer.

"I was delighted to hear about their interest. I just wanted to get my signature on the paper."

The England international also has enough self-belief not to question whether he can be a success.

"I have confidence in my own ability," he said. "I always said I wanted to play at the highest level. Manchester United is that.

"This move gives me the opportunity to play in the Champions League and go for a 20th title. That just says it all. The history of the club is fantastic and I am delighted to be part of it."

"I want to be part of a winning team," Young added. "From the first day I arrived, the manager has been talking about the winning mentality.

"You can see the desire in training. This club is all about winning. The 20th title. The FA Cup. The League Cup. Whatever it is the club is challenging for, I want a medal round my neck."

At the present time, it is not clear how Young will end up being deployed.

"I can play left, right, off the front striker or as a main striker," he said. "It is the manager's decision, not mine. I just have to concentrate on my own game and wherever I am picked, do myself justice.

"The manager bought me for a reason, to get assists and goals and work hard for the team. If I can do that every time I am selected, my job is done."

Ferguson sees Young as pure winger

Sir Alex Ferguson sees Ashley Young as a pure winger.

The Sunday Mirror says Ryan Giggs, now 37, has patrolled the left flank at United for the bulk of his 21-year career exploiting his unique mix of pace and skill. But in recent years he has been utilised in a more central position in midfield.

Young, who began his career as a winger, can play on either flank, but most recently at Villa Park had been deployed behind the striker.

There had been talk that Ferguson could use Young as a back-up striker, but the United boss has now outlined his position to him.

Young will be the latest in a line of candidates – including Zoran Tosic and Kieran Richardson - brought in to fill the shoes of the veteran Giggs.

Neville: Nani, Young can play in same team

Gary Neville insists Nani and Ashley Young can play in the same team.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's acquisition of Young from Aston Villa last month led to questions being raised as to whether fellow winger Nani - who enjoyed his most impressive campaign to date for the Red Devils in 2010-11 - might look to move on from Old Trafford.

Asked if he was surprised Ferguson had recruited Young in light of Nani's form last term, Neville said: "Not really, because you look at last year when Antonio Valencia got injured.

"He was out for about six months and then, particularly when Park Ji-sung went away to play in the Asian Cup, we really were at times short on the ground in those positions.

"Ashley Young is someone who can play left and right and off the front - so can Nani and so can Park.

"There are plenty enough positions and games for them to share around."

Young tipped to play as striker

New Manchester United signing Ashley Young could end up being the striker signing Sir Alex Ferguson has been seeking.

The Independent says Young is generally characterised as a replacement for Ryan Giggs and the player whose arrival gives Luis Nani cause to worry for his future. But that's not how Gérard Houllier saw it at Aston Villa. Houllier discerned as soon as arriving at Villa Park last summer that Young operated better behind the main striker.

Asked about Martin O'Neill's perception that Young could potentially be one of the best left-wings in Europe, Houllier replied: "No. He can play on the wing. Whether he can be one of the best in the world in that position... I think he can be one of the best in another position."

Last month Fabio Capello agreed that Young is best deployed centrally, "not left-wing or right wing".

The growing consensus in football is that Young operates best there.

Success of Man Utd signing Young leaves his ex-Watford coach in tears

Ashley Young has had one of his former coaches in tears over the success he's enjoyed since almost being rejected by Watford.

The Hornets were ready to let the 16-year-old hopeful go because they reckoned he did not have the build for the rough and tumble of football.

But youth development officer Chris Cummins persuaded the club's hierarchy to keep faith with the lad.

He told The Sun: "Ashley came to Watford as a lad of eight and worked his way through the system.

"His attitude was first class. He never missed a training session and from a very early age you could see how bright he was as a footballer.

"When he got to 16 there was a school of thought at Watford that he wasn't strong enough.

"As a result he wasn't offered a scholarship but he stayed on as a non-contract boy, training twice a week at night after school. I really felt there was something there.

"He listened, took the knocks and proved people wrong. He has proved his character and his ability and I couldn't be more pleased for him."

Cummins, who has an England shirt signed by Young, said: "As a youth coach you always want to produce your first million-pound player.

"I admit I've shed the odd tear when I see how well Ashley's done for himself and his family.

"Ashley's kept his feet on the ground but I still have to buy the coffee when we meet up before England games at their hotel. He's still a bit tight!"

Young: Speaking with Sir Alex left me buzzing

New signing Ashley Young admits he was buzzing when first speak with Sir Alex about leaving Aston Villa.

Young completed his move to United yesterday.

He said: "You get a buzz inside. You get a great feeling that one of the greatest managers in the world wants to sign you and one of the greatest clubs in the world wants to buy you.

"I am excited. It's surreal but I'm delighted to be here and I just want to get on with the job.

"As soon as I got the call I wanted to get things sorted, get the papers signed and get back into training.

"I remember when I got my first England call I thought it was a wind-up.

"I knew this one wasn't. But there's a lot of banter in the game. You can tell from the expression on my face I'm excited but I just want to get my head down now and get on with it."

Manchester United complete signing of Ashley Young from Aston Villa

Ashley Young has signed a five-year deal with Man Utd it has been announced.

The 25-year old winger has departed Aston Villa with the transfer fee believed to be around £16million.

A statement on Man Utd’s official website read: "Man Utd is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Ashley Young.

"The player passed a medical in Manchester this week and has agreed a five-year contract."

Young passed the medical yesterday and signed the deal today, making him United’s second signing of the summer after young defender Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers.

Young only trained twice weekly until 18

Imminent signing Ashley Young didn't take football seriously until he turned 18.

The Aston Villa winger hopes to complete his move to United in the coming days.

Young continued his school education into his late teens while training twice a week with Watford, before Ray Lewington handed him a professional contract at the age of 18.

By that stage, Lewington knew he had one of the best British talents in a generation.

He told the People: “I remember watching one of the kids’ games one day, and I asked about him.

“Dave Dodds, who was in charge of them, told me: ‘That’s Ashley Young, and I think he is going to play for England.’

“Doddy’s not prone to exaggeration, and then reserve team manager Nigel Gibbs told me the same.

“I have to admit I wasn’t so sure ... it didn’t take long to convince me, though.

“Exciting players like him rarely come along. He could use both feet, and defenders couldn’t deal with him.

“To be honest, I think one of the reasons he didn’t get a scholarship might have been that his parents wanted him to continue his education, just in case.

“They were brilliant at dealing with him and prepared him for what was to come.”