Ashley Young has thanked Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill for
keeping faith in him when doubts were raised over his form this
season.
Young gave another demonstration of his worth with his
performance during Sunday's 5-2 home win over Burnley which kept
Villa in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
The former Watford player scored a first-half equaliser and
then set up a vital second goal for Stewart Downing.
It has been a talking point as to whether Young has reached
the same heights as 12 month ago when he helped Villa finish in the
top six for the second season running - but O'Neill has remained
fully supportive.
Young said: "There have been times when people have said
'I've not had as good a season as last season'. But the manager has
been full of praise for me, has always backed me non-stop, and I
just want to do well for the team and the manager.
"He instils a lot of confidence into you.
"If you look at the displays, especially in the last weeks
that I have put in, I am delighted with them - and just delighted
how things are going for the club."
Young believes Villa are starting to see the best of fellow
wide player Downing, who netted his first brace of league goals for
Villa since his £12 million summer move from Middlesbrough.
He was sidelined for the first half of the season with the
broken foot sustained in a challenge by Villa skipper Stiliyan
Petrov in April but has quickly slotted into the side in recent
weeks.
Young said: "Stewart has come into the side and he has done
terrific for us. He was out for so long through injury and
different players take different times to settle into a team.
"But Stewart is a top-class player who has settled in here
straight away, and the way he has played means it hasn't looked
like he had been out for that long.
"He has been brilliant since he came into the team and he was
brilliant against Burnley.
"Goals always boost your confidence but he is a confident
player anyway. You see him in training and see him in games so far
and he has done some great things."
Young admitted Villa responded to a verbal half-time lashing
from O'Neill after a below-par opening 45 minutes against the
Clarets.
He said: "The manager wasn't happy - and he was right not to
be happy with the performance we put in during the first half.
"But we bounced back and put in a good performance and got
the win we deserved on our second-half display.
"We were disappointed to go a goal down but it has been
instilled into us to bounce back from setbacks and that is exactly
what we did.
"We got the equaliser at a crucial time and in the second
half we came out and took control of the game."
