The Manchester United winger, Ashley Young, has praised his Ecuadorian team mate Antonio Valencia and said that there are not many players in the world who are more versatile than Valencia.

Valencia was one of the most successful players for United in the last season. He had scored 6 goals and set up 15 goals in the last season. He was also named as the fans’ player of the year.

Valencia hasn’t been able to show the same kind of form in the ongoing season, but, Young told Man Utd news, there is nothing to worry about Valencia’s form. There is still a long way to go in the season and Valencia would come good at some point of time.

As per Young, Valencia is one of those players who take care of his fitness very well. He spends a lot of time in the gym and he is one of the fittest players going around. Also, he never takes success for granted. He works hard in the training sessions and his approach towards the game is fantastic.

The young players can learn a lot from him. The manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, has also agreed with Young’s views about Valencia. As per Ferguson, he is very impressed with the way Valencia has developed his game. The Ecuadorian has gone from strength to strength. He is a very quick learner which is a great quality to have.

Ashley Young was not able to play for United in the match against Southampton. On being asked about his fitness, Ferguson said that Young’s knee injury is not serious. It’s a minor one. He has rested in the last two days and he would definitely get fit before United’s next match against Wigan Athletic.

Ashley Young’s club Manchester United is looking to sign the Belgian midfielder Moussa Dembele. A few days ago, the manager of Manchester united, Sir Alex Ferguson, had made it clear that Angelo Henriquez is his last signing this summer and he would not sign any more player this year. But, it seems that Ferguson is still looking to sign a few players. According to the reports, Ferguson has been quite impressed with the playing style of Dembele and he is keen to have the Belgian midfielder in the United team. Apart from United, Tottenham Hotspur is also in the race of signing Dembele.

Dembele is currently playing for Fulham. He has been with Fulham since the last 2 years. He had joined the club in August 2010 on a contract of 3 years. Fulham had bought him from AZ Alkmaar after paying a contract fee of 5 million pounds. He played his first match for Fulham against Manchester United. His first goal for Fulham was against Port Vale in a match of the League Cup. In the last season, Dembele played in the central midfield and performed very well for Fulham. At the end of the last season, Martin Jol, the manager of Fulham, had said that the club wants to extend the contract of Dembele. But, Dembele hasn’t yet signed a new deal with Fulham.

A few days ago, in one of his interviews, Dembele had said that his tenure at Fulham has been quite decent so far and he would not leave Fulham until he gets the offer of a big club. Now, he has got the offer of a big club in the form of Manchester United. It would be interesting to see whether Dembele joins United or decides to stay with Fulham.

England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that Manchester United winger Ashley Young is edging closer towards his recovery before the crucial quarter-final match against Italy.

The Man Utd winger has been a major concern for the match after suffering an injury blow in the match against Ukraine. England have qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition as the group winners. They will be facing Italian in the quarter finals of the competition knowing that they will be facing Germany in the semifinals of the competition, which will be a major motivation for the England players.

So far, England have been extremely disciplined and tactical in their approach, but could be found out in the match against due to the fact that it has always been the hallmark of Italian play. Due to the form shown by Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, it is expected that England will have to do a lot of defending against Italy. Counter-attack style of play will be extremely crucial in this match. Manchester United winger Ashley Young is extremely crucial to the counter-attacking style of play adopted by Roy Hodgson, but his absence could prove to be a major problem. As it is, he is looking likely to recover.

“We’re more organised than ever. The lads have all been fighting for each other, we want to do this together, so I think we’ve got a great chance. We feel good, we’ve prepared well and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s important that we believe in ourselves. We’ve got a great group of players and we’re confident. It’s not going to be an easy game, but we’ve got the players, we’ve got the belief and the togetherness to do a job on them. Once you get to this stage of the competition anything can happen,” said Wayne Rooney.

Ashley Young has had a exceptional start to his Manchester united Career since making the step up after his transfer from strugglers Aston Villa for a fee between £15 – £20million.

Despite a strong season for the winger, he has been at the centre of much controversy as he has been the prime example in the ongoing argument of diving in the modern game.

Young’s suspected dive during United’s home game against QPR which saw Ranger’s midfielder Shaun Derry’s sent off has been highlighted as a key demonstration of how theatricals has worked its way into the game. Young has received high levels of abuse for his involvement in diving, with a cartoon video of Young in goggles and swimming hat learning to dive, where referees mark his performance becoming an internet sensation.

Young’s manager Alex Ferguson has been quick to defend his winger, implying that his ‘diver’ tag is an unfair one, suggesting that ‘It doesn’t take much for the press to get a bandwagon rolling these days and in my view it’s quite unfair.’ Despite this defence Ferguson has admitted to speaking to the player about his conduct and warning him about going down easily in the future and the reputation he may develop as a result.

Young also spoke out to defend his actions saying “Professionals know that if there is any touch in the box there is a chance that with the speed and the pace that you are running at you are going to go down.” Although he has received some support from ex Manchester united pundit Gary Neville who believes diving is now part of the game, the majority of pundits and fans are hoping to eradicate it, pressuring the FA to introduce harsher laws on players who dive.

Manchester United’s summer signing Ashley Young has been one of the influential players for the club this season. Even when the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney has flattered to deceive, Ashley Young has been the one player to deliver the goals and the assists for Manchester United.

Ahead of their crucial encounter with FC Basel in the Champions League, the former Aston Villa winger has said that United will be looking out for nothing but a victory. Manchester United can qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League with a draw, but Ashley Young says that it is very dangerous to head into games with this attitude.

Ashley Young says that the players will perform only if they think that they should win this match. Otherwise, it would be impossible to win the match, as it will be played in front of the FC Basel supporters, who will certainly know that United will be for the taking. Manchester United have only themselves to blame for this position after dropping two points at home to FC Basel earlier on in the season. Manchester United were having a two-goal advantage in the first half, but they let FC Basel back into the game with some sloppy defending in the second half.

The 3-3 draw now means a lot to Manchester United, as they have to come out all guns blazing in the away match against FC Basel. “It would be dangerous to think we only need a draw. No one at this club has that mentality. We still have it in our hands to go there and qualify, which was the main target and we will be trying to win,” the former Aston Villa man said. Manchester United will be without the services of Hernandez for the match.

Aston Villa midfielder Ashley young has praised Gerrard Houllier for bringing Darren bent to Aston Villa. Even though Bent did not score at the DW Stadium, his second game for the club, Young did and insisted that his team-mate has injected much-needed positivity into the team. “Darren hasn’t just taken weight off my shoulders, he has boosted everyone,” Young said.

“He is a quality signing and has shown in the first two games how well he can do for us. Darren is a great addition to the squad as well as Jean Makoun. The manager knew who he wanted to bring in in the window and he has done superb.

“It is always great to see players added to the squad. They have been great signings. Everybody knows Darren’s attributes and he has done well at all his previous clubs. I am sure he is delighted to be at Villa and we are delighted to have him. He has settled in really well. It feels like he has been here a long while.

New boss admits he won’t be able to keep Young at Villa Park but knows his first task will be to sort out Stewart Downing’s future at the clubAston Villa manager Alex McLeish has admitted he is resigned to losing Ashley Young over the summer, but the Scot is determined to hold onto Stewart Downing.

Young has been linked with a move away from Villa Park since the end of the season, with Manchester United his reported destination, and McLeish concedes he didn’t expect to be working with the forward next season.

“It’s not confirmed yet [Young’s transfer to Manchester United] but it does seem likely,” he told Talksport.

“In my humble opinion it will be very difficult [to keep hold of him].”

Ashley Young is being targeted by Liverpool as they believe that Aston Villa will accept a bid of around £25 million.

The England international’s contract expires next summer and his club would rather cash in on him now rather than allow him to move for free in 2012.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are all thought to be interested in Young, which could help Villa achieve their asking price if a bidding war erupts.

The winger is likely to be keen on a move after the disappointing season Villa have endured, especially as he would be likely to improve on his current £65,000 per week deal.

Ashley Young has been urged by his Villa team-mates Marc Albrighton and Robert Pires to sign a new contract this summer.

Ashley Young has been in fine form for Villa this season and with his current deal set to expire in 16 months time Young has been linked with a move away.

Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are among his admirers, although manager Gerard Houllier is keen to hold on to him.

Young has maintained that he will discuss his future in the summer and his colleagues are hopeful the 25-year-old will stay.

“I don’t know what is happening with Ashley but for me, he should stay at Villa,” said Pires. “It is important for Villa. Ashley is a very good player, he plays for the national team.

Manchester City are plotting a move for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young as a major rebuild of the Eastlands squad is planned this summer, according to a report from The Daily Mirror.

City are reportedly set to unload Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Martin Petrov in the summer, and plan to line up with Young on one wing and Adam Johnson on the other.

Young, 24, has impressed once again for Villa this season, but might be tempted to leave, along with several other Villa stars, after another season when breaking into the top four of the Premier League has proved too much for Martin O’Neill’s squad.

City have, like neighbours Manchester United, also been linked with a move for James Milner. O’Neill has angrily refuted suggestions that the midfielder is set to leave, as he looks to retain the services of his star players ahead of likely summer upheaval.