Ashley Young has had a funny old career, hasn’t he? One moment he’s one of the finest young talents in the Premier League (and one of England’s big hopes) and the next he’s a laughing stock. It comes to something when a professional footballer makes more headlines for (supposedly) getting bird poo in his mouth, than for actually making an impact on games (admittedly, the bird poo story is pretty compelling).
He’s now 29-years-old, so we can no longer excuse his shortcomings as being down to a lack of experience. He should be enjoying the best years of his playing career. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case any more.
In three full seasons at Manchester United, he has made just 86 starts and scored 11 goals. That’s not a terrible return, but it’s not fantastic either. Contrast this to his time at Aston Villa, when he made 190 appearances over five seasons and scored 38 goals. His goals-to-game ratio was a lot better and he was clearly a lot more influential at his old club.
Manchester United signed a lot of attacking talent in the summer, so Ashley Young may find his first team opportunities somewhat limited this season. If he wants to re-build his career, he may have to move elsewhere. More specifically, he may have to make a step down to a smaller club in order to earn more game time.
It may hurt Young’s ego in the short-term, but if it helps him to re-build his reputation, he won’t have any regrets.
According to The Express, three Premier League clubs are interested in snapping him up. The clubs in question are Aston Villa, Sunderland and Southampton. Manchester United will be hoping for a bidding war, but they also need to consider the player’s future. The best possible destination for Young at this stage would be Southampton.
The Saints favour attacking football and there’s room for him in their first team. Southampton have started the season well and look like a genuine force in the Premier League. Ashley Young looks like a good fit for them, given the level of their ambition.
Let’s just hope that Young is given the opportunity to prove his worth once again.
What’s your take? Should Ashley Young seek a move away from Old Trafford?
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