Aston Villa assistant manager Gary McAllister insists Ashley Young exit is ‘not inevitable’

Ashley Young, Aston Villa (Getty Images)

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Aston Villa are refusing to give up the fight to maintain the services of Ashley Young, with assistant manager Gary McAllister warning the winger against the potential pitfalls of a move.

McAllister, who has taken on the role of caretaker manager for the duration of Gerard Houllier’s illness, is keen to keep the England international, whose contract has one year remaining.

“I don’t think it’s inevitable he will leave and we will do everything we can to keep him here,” the former Liverpool midfielder told reporters.

“The grass is also not always greener somewhere else but we are not silly. We have to be realistic.”

The assistant manager was candid about the fact that the Champions League could be the catalyst for Young, who has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, to push for a move.

He said: “All players have ambition to play in the Champions League.

“We can’t give them that. It’s a goal but we all know how difficult it is to get up there.

“You can always understand the lure of playing in that competition. I managed to get a touch of it as a balding old man and it is a great experience.”

McAllister did however cite Young’s blossoming partnership with fellow England forward Darren Bent as a reason for the former Watford man to stay.

“He has become an England player playing for Aston Villa,” he said.

“The partnership of him and Darren has looked exciting for Fabio Capello, for sure.”