Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

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Young earns O'Neill backing

20 Apr 2007 - 16:25:25

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has backed £8million signing Ashley Young to live up to his hefty price tag.

The England Under-21 international scored on his Villa debut back in January but has failed to find the net in his next eight matches.

Young could eventually cost the Midlands club £9.65million, but O'Neill claims he has no fears about the future of the former Watford striker and has backed the youngster to make more of an impact next season.

"I am not concerned, not in the slightest about Ashley," claimed O'Neill.

"That is not big bravado talk - absolutely not. I expected him to take some time to settle down.

"It wouldn't have mattered whether he cost us £200,000 or whatever. I would still have said the same thing.

"I've no doubt Ashley Young will make the grade and be brilliant for us.

"We will see the best of him next season without question.

"For him to have come in and taken the place by storm was asking an awful lot and I didn't have any expectations except he would play in the side, settle down and take it from there.

"There is no question he will be a top-quality player for us. I thought his second-half performance at Middlesbrough (last weekend) was fine."