Source: Telegraph
Ashley Young takes charge of Aston Villa as Martin O'Neill's captain
"I mean, who's making the decisions around here?" O'Neill joked. [LNB]The Villa manager's selection of Young as captain apparently came as something of a surprise for the player too, yet O'Neill's decision simply served to illustrate once again how important the inspirational winger has become to the side, and how crucial his return to the side could be in the coming months. [LNB]In his absence, Villa managed to score just one goal, against Portsmouth, thanks to Emile Heskey. They failed to register against either Doncaster or Wigan - who they dismantled 4-0 the first time they played them this season. [LNB]"It's been a difficult time," Young admitted. "I was at the Wigan game and it was frustrating to watch the boys and not be involved. I am just glad to be back now. I want to help us push forward and keep that quality run going."[LNB]Villa play Blackburn this weekend, and as well as looking to consolidate their position in the top four, they are chasing a record seven successive away wins in the league. However, Brad Friedel, the Villa goalkeeper, insists that securing three more points has to be the primary focus of their afternoon, not record-breaking. [LNB]"That would be fantastic but we have to take one game at a time and try to get the three points," he said. [LNB]"I don't think we can get involved in records and things of that nature. It is nice to look back on those types of records at the end of your career but while you are playing you can't think about things like that."[LNB]Having signed from Blackburn in the summer, Friedel has the advantage of possessing background knowledge on the Blackburn strikers, and he will be passing on his knowledge to his defenders ahead of the match. [LNB]"I know their players well and once we see the team I will pass on any tips. All three of them are good and they are all very different. Benni is a very skilful boy, Jason Roberts is very powerful and Roque works very hard, is ever so skilful and is good in the air."[LNB]Meanwhile, the man accused of throwing a fifty-pence piece that hit referee's assistant Phil Sharp "in a moment of madness" during the Premier League match against Portsmouth at Villa Park last October was banned from all football grounds for five years yesterday. [LNB]"We are pleased that this matter has reached a satisfactory conclusion through the courts," a Villa spokesman said. "We will now consider whether to extend the duration of the ban from Villa Park as part of our constant review of safety and crowd control procedures and penalties."[LNB]
