Martin O’Neill knows the importance of having a quality midfield. Just last season he watched as his club defied the odds and moved into the top eight in the Premier League with Gareth Barry and Ashley Young leading the young squad. Barry’s importance in the center of the pitch was known; however, Young’s growth last season was something O’Neill never saw coming. Today his growth was rewarded, as Young signed a new contract with the club.
England international Ashley Young has signed a new four-year deal which will keep him at Aston Villa until 2012.
The midfielder has been in fine form, having scored four times in 17 appearances for Villa this season.
Young also featured prominently for Villa last season and has already been capped three times by England, however he has not yet established himself at international level, and has not been selected this season by Fabio Capello. (Telegraph)
This is fantastic news indeed. Young was rumoured to be on the brink of signing a new deal; however, with the current credit crisis, nobody knew for sure when that contract might come. Young’s play has once again been off the charts in a season where Aston Villa have needed his services more than ever.
Are Aston Villa supporters glad to see a deal get done?