Alan Hutton: ‘Ultra-fit’ Ashley Young someone Aston villa must lean on
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Ashley Young has been the beneficiary of injuries at Aston Villa recently and Alan Hutton wants the Villans to harness his experience.
The 37-year-old has been deputising at right-back for Steven Gerrard’s side recently with Polish international Matty Cash out injured and Villa have not lost a game this season in which he has featured (three wins and a draw against Manchester City).
His natural versatility could well come in very handy for Gerrard, a former England teammate of Young, with injuries starting to pile up at Villa Park as the season wears on.
Hutton, who also briefly played with Young earlier in his career during his time at Villa Park, wants the boss to utilise his winning mentality and fitness as much as possible as the hectic schedule kicks into gear.
“He’s only come in because Cash has that injury but I think he is someone who looks after himself so well that it isn’t a problem for him,” Hutton said exclusively to Villa News.
“He’s ultra-fit and he can play left-back and cover there, right-back, further up the pitch and he’s got a lot to give. This is a guy who’s won a lot and he’s played at such a high level throughout his career, even at left-wing.
“He’s been playing at such a high level that he’s even been over to Italy and won things so you want to lean on players like that and you want that in your squad. I know for a fact that he is a good character in the dressing room as well.”
Villa will head to Yorkshire on Sunday afternoon to take on Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United with Young likely to play at full-back as both Cash and Lucas Digne have been ruled out.
In other Aston Villa news, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on Jacob Ramsey and his chances of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad.