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Aston Villa defender Luke Young thinks he was right to snub a transfer to Liverpool in the summer.

The full-back was wanted by Roy Hodgson but opted against a move and has gone on to play in all of Villa’s Premier League games so far this season.

Liverpool instead signed Paul Konchesky, but the former Fulham player has not been able to help his new club in a torrid period both on an off the field.

In contrast, Villa occupy eighth position in the table and Young is glad he has been playing a regular role in his club’s positive start to the campaign.

“I just felt that I perhaps had more of a chance, if I could get my head down and keep going, of getting in the first team at Aston Villa than I did of getting in at Liverpool,” he said in the Daily Mirror.

“At 31, I didn’t really want to go anywhere and, on matchday, feel I was there as a back-up.

“I pretty much knew that with Glen Johnson the England No 1 right-back at Anfield, I’d be watching in the Premier League and maybe playing in Europe.

“I had the feeling the offer was as kind of a back-up for left-back and right-back.” (Football365)

After Liverpool’s start to the season, it looks as if Luke Young may have made the right decision, although his reasons seem unclear. If Young had signed for Liverpool, then the Konchesky move would have been unlikely, leaving the left-back spot open for Young to make his own.

As it stands, he is still a Villa player and enjoying a good start to the season having played in every Premier League game for the Midlands side.

After Konchesky’s unconvincing start to his Liverpool career, do fans still want to see another full-back brought in?

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Aston Villa have submitted their final squad for the Premier League campaign, using just 22 of the 25-man allocation.

New rules introduced this season mean all top flight clubs must register a maximum of 25 players with the Premier League by 5pm on Wednesday following the close of the summer transfer window.

Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald has not used up the full allocation available to him, with three slots left vacant.

Changes can be made to the squad when the transfer window reopens in January.

Summer recruit Stephen Ireland – used as a makeweight in the sale of James Milner to Manchester City – is included.

Seldom used Moustapha Salifou is also named in the squad, alongside reserve team players Eric Lichaj, Jonathan Hogg and Isaiah Osbourne.

The Villa side also has a youthful look to it, with a host of players under the age of 21 available for MacDonald to call upon in addition to his 22-man ranks.

Marc Albrighton, Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan, Ciaran Clark and Fabian Delph have previously gained first team experience and could be given further chances to shine if required.

Villa’s 22-man squad: Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, James Collins, Carlos Cuellar, Curtis Davies, Habib Beye, Richard Dunne, Eric Lichaj, Stephen Warnock, Luke Young, Stewart Downing, Jonathan Hogg, Stephen Ireland, Isaiah Osbourne, Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Moustapha Salifou, Steve Sidwell, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew, Emile Heskey. (Sky Sports)

There is a definite youthful feel to the Aston Villa squad and that should be something Villa Park fans should be happy about as it suggests that a healthy proportion of the club’s youth and reserve team stars are making it to the senior side, clearly something Kevin MacDonald is responsible for during his time as reserve team boss.

Having secured two wins from three games thus far the Scottish caretaker boss may feel he has a chance of securing the job on a permanent basis but recent statements from the board seem to suggest that the club is looking for a manager with proven Premier League experience which would of course rule out MacDonald as a possible candidate.

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Aston Villa defender Luke Young has emerged as a target for Liverpool – and is weighing up whether to make a cut price £2.5 million move to Anfield.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed he has received an offer for former England right-back Luke Young.

And sources close to the club indicate the interest in the former Charlton and Middlesbrough player is from the Reds.

Young was one of half a dozen players made available for transfer at the end of the season – if the price was right.

He was a key performer during his first campaign at Villa after making a £5 million switch from Middlesbrough during the summer of 2008. (Independent)

Yes, this would be a bargain, but would it be a move worth making? Luke Young is a solid if not spectacular signing but is he a player a side looking to break back into the top four should be making? Also, with Glen Johnson as the out and out first choice and with Jamie Carragher also able to pitch in as a full back, is he even needed?

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Luke Young has announced his retirement from international football after rejecting the chance to replace Glen Johnson in the England squad for this weekend’s game with Brazil.

The Aston Villa ace, who has only recently returned to action after injury and personal problems, was offered the chance to link up with the Three Lions for the glamour game with Brazil after Liverpool’s Johnson was forced to pull out of the squad due to injury.

However, Young has snubbed the overture from manager Fabio Capello and has decided to quit the international scene.

The 30-year-old has made the decision to quit England to focus on playing for Premier League outfit Villa.

The former Tottenham and Charlton defender won seven caps for England, with his last appearance coming against Argentina in 2005.

The loss of Johnson leaves England with Wes Brown as the only recognised right-back in the squad for the game with Brazil. (Sky Sports)

Reports suggesting that Fabio Capello is considering quitting his post at this mammoth retirement are of course completely false.

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The Rumour

Aston Villa are reported to be lining up a £15million double swoop on Tottenham for Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill is ready to offer £10million for Jenas as he tries to replace Gareth Barry, while right-back Hutton is also a target with reports claiming a £5million offer will be made.

Spurs chief Harry Redknapp is looking to generate his own transfer funds and could be willing to do business although he is still keen on a couple of Villa players and may try and line up a swap deal.

Redknapp has been linked with John Carew and Ashley Young all summer but O’Neill is unwilling to cash in on two of his star players and just wants a straight cash deal for Jenas and Hutton.

The Source: (Clubcall)

The Analysis

Martin O’Neill saw his Villa side over achieve for the best part of half of last season and whilst some may consider their failure to break the top four something of a choking exercise by the midlands exercise, it is probably fairer to deem the club to have actually come a long way by finishing sixth and qualifying for the Europa League.

Having lost Gareth Barry and quite possibly set to let Ashley Young leave, why else buy Stewart Downing, now the club is looking to appease it’s fans by bringing in some talented players to the club. Jermaine Jenas on his day is a very good midfielder with the ability to win a game with a good run or a good finish as well as being able to do the dirty work, however far too often he has been found wanting and Harry Redknapp may consider offloading the former Newcastle United man.

Alan Hutton is also surplus to requirements due to the sheer amount of full backs available at White Hart Lane the Scotsman would be better off moving to ensure some much needed playing time.

The Likelihood

Jenas/Hutton to Aston Villa: I can see O’Neill capturing Jenas but may decide against signing the right back in favour of returning Luke Young to that position and giving Nicky Shorey another chance at left back.

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