Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has praised Ashley Young for the role he has played for us this season, and hinted at a potential contract extension.
The 37-year-old has made 25 appearances across all competitions so far this season, and he has proven to be an important part of the squad again in recent weeks as he continues to deputise for Matty Cash at right-back.
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Villa have kept two clean sheets and conceded just once in the last three Premier League games with Young starting, and while we hope to continue our impressive recent form against Newcastle Utd this weekend, there’s no denying that he has been a reliable and experienced presence in the side to help us maintain our positive form.
Coupled with the leadership and know-how that he brings to the group and his contributions off the pitch in the dressing room, Young helps with establishing a vital balance in the squad, and Emery acknowledged that in his press conference this week when asked about the wily veteran.
“I spoke with him when I arrived here and we went to Dubai, and I told him football is changing and the players as well,” he told reporters, as per VillaTV. “Twenty, 30, 40 years ago it would be impossible to keep a 37-year-old player in the squad, very difficult. In Villarreal I had players who were 40-years-old, 38-years-old and now I have changed my mind with young and old – for me, it’s the same.
“Today players care about being healthy, caring about the physical work. If you are only watching Young and his match, only being focused on how he is playing, you will wonder how old he is – 25? Thirty-eight? Maybe but for me it’s the same.
“I know his contract is finishing [in the summer] and we are going to decide. I’m happy with him, and the last match he played against Nottingham he played very well. He used his experiences to help the team, and I appreciate that a lot.”
While that isn’t an absolute suggestion that the intention from the club’s perspective is to extend Young’s stay again this summer, it certainly sounds as though Emery values him highly and what he contributes, and so there is a sense that Young has played his way into staying with us beyond this season.
Time will tell if that’s made official before the summer to remove any doubt over his future, but as Villa are expected to strengthen the squad this summer and continue to build a more competitive group, players like Young undoubtedly still have a key role to play, given his experience and versatility, in assembling a squad that can compete on multiple fronts.
Albeit he has shown this season that he is more than capable of performing at a high level consistently still, as he continues to move towards the end of his playing career though, there is also a long-term hope that he remains with Villa in a coaching capacity, should that be a path he wishes to pursue.