Ashley Young uses international stage to prove his value to summer admirers Manchester United, City & Liverpool

COMMENT
By Wayne Veysey | Chief correspondent

In the cold light of day, Fabio Capello will conclude there was little he learned at a Cardiff cauldron that was far more frenzied off the pitch than on.

That Jack Wilshere is a natural at the top level, Scott Parker is a blur of energy, there is life in Frank Lampard and Darren Bent knows the way to goal when he gets the service, he will have already deduced.

But the most food for thought for the Italian strategist will have been provided by Ashley Young’s performance. The Aston Villa man was the outstanding player at the Millennium Stadium.

He was instrumental in sewing up the match for England – one that had looked so tricky on paper – in the opening 15 minutes.

First, Young won the early spot-kick after entering the penalty area down the inside-left channel following a neat one-two with John Terry. It was a poor challenge from James Collins, whose rush of blood had followed an unfortunate slip, but Young’s burst was superbly timed.

He demonstrated his calibre even further with his contribution to the second goal. A clever run behind the flapping left-back Danny Collins was spotted by Glen Johnson, whose stunning 60-yard pass was so precise that Young was able to roll a delicious first-time cross into the grateful path of Bent, who walloped it into the roof of the net. It was a simple but wonderfully crafted goal.

From there, Young did not look back. In alliance with the rampaging Johnson, he terrorised Wales’ left flank in the first half with his pace, crossing and neat footwork.

Like his team-mates, he was quieter after the break when England took their foot off the pedal but Young had proved that his match-winning display as a second-half substitute in the February friendly against Denmark was not a flash in the pan. Young has now scored or set up each of England’s last three goals.

A role on the right side of a front three is not what the 25-year-old has been used to this season at club level, where he has graduated from predominantly left winger to second striker.

        Shooting star | Ashley Young has scored or set up each of England’s last three goals

But Young’s quality on the ball is matched by his versatility. During five seasons wearing the claret-and-blue, he has demonstrated he can play effectively anywhere behind the centre-forward.

It is with good reason that Champions League calibre clubs are targeting him as a blue-chip summer signing.

Through accident or design, and the suspicion rests on the latter, Young’s camp have manoeuvred themselves into an exceptionally strong bargaining position.

His Villa contract will have only another season to run by the time England play their next international against Switzerland in early June and by that time his future will be clearer.

The chances of him still being in the Midlands next season are almost minimal. Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City have made their interest in capturing his signature well known. Tottenham, who had two bids worth just short of £20million rejected for the midfielder two summers ago and held further negotiations last year, also maintain an interest.

The money men at Villa will have been chuffed by Young’s man-of-the-match display in a competitive international. With his value falling as the months tick by on his contract, it might have added a million or two on to his summer fee.

For England followers, there will also be delight that a player who has the imagination and skill to lift supporters out of their seats is establishing himself at international level.

Young’s failure to make the World Cup squad last summer registered low on the scale of surprises compared to Theo Walcott’s shock omission after he failed to shine in the few chances that came his way.

Yet he has now leap-frogged above Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips among the available wide players. James Milner does not like to consider himself a flank specialist but he, too, is limited in the wide areas compared to Young.

As a scorer and provider of goals, the Villa flyer is one of the most consistent attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

Even in a campaign of growing woe in Birmingham, Young has still contributed eight goals and a further eight assists, even if he has directly created fewer goals than in his first three seasons at Villa (17, 14 and 16).

He is now the man in possession for the England team. Capello’s switch from an orthodox 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, to a 4-2-3-1 formation against Wales allowed his team to swamp the hosts in midfield and provide goal threats all across the midfield.

The tactical straitjacket that had smothered England’s disastrous World Cup last summer was binned in favour of a conspicuously less rigid formation.

Young was everywhere; hugging the touchline, coming inside to exploit the space between Danny Collins and Ashley Williams, spinning behind defenders generally not used to such movement and fleetness of foot.

He will now feel he belongs at international level. Like Wilshere, Parker and Bent, Young is not guilty by association with the South Africa debacle and represents part of a fresh new era.

Capello’s hunch worked a treat in Cardiff. Young’s career has just reached another level.

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