Aston Villa Football Club

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Paul Lambert

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42584

O'Neill repeats Young stance

13 Dec 2008 - 09:45:17

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has reiterated his belief that Ashley Young is a world-class performer.

O'Neill made his initial claims after the 23-year-old netted twice in the 3-2 victory at Everton last weekend and the Irishman stands by his verdict from the Goodison Park success.

He said: "Could you name me two dozen players in the world who would have scored the goal Ashley scored at Everton? I can't. I really can't.

"It was superb - the way he had the presence of mind when Gabby Agbonlahor played the ball through, to size up the situation, to go immediately and attack the centre-half, to knock it around him and to bend the ball into the corner of the net.

"That was all in the last minute of a game in which Ashley had worked tirelessly. Just to have the energy to do it was remarkable. I think he is a world-class performer.

"It is an over-used phrase and I don't use it too often, but he is an absolutely class player and he has far from reached his peak.

"Is Young in the company of Messi and Ronaldo? Yes. I've just put him in it. I've put him in it via my statement, not anything else. This is my opinion.

"I see a lot of games in Europe; I watch a lot of football, and you see a lot of functional players and then you have the players who are exceptional and Ashley Young is exceptional."