Young exit 'not inevitable'

Gary McAllister insists it is not 'inevitable' that Ashley Young will leave Aston Villa, but accepts the winger may be tempted by the lure of UEFA Champions League football.

Young has only a further season to run on his current contract at Villa Park and has been linked with summer moves to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Villa's assistant manager McAllister knows what it means to play on the biggest club stage after tasting it with Liverpool at the tail end of his distinguished career.

McAllister, who continues to deputise while manager Gerard Houllier recovers from his heart problems, said: "I don't think it's inevitable Ashley will go.

"We will do everything we can to keep him here. He has become an England player playing for Aston Villa.

"The partnership of him and Darren Bent has looked exciting for Fabio Capello, for sure. The grass is also not always greener somewhere else but we are not silly. We have to be realistic.

"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.

"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 is quick to praise Young for the way he has remained focused on helping Villa in their relegation battle.

He said: "The facts are that Ashley could have been distracted with all the talk.

"There's not a day passed when he hasn't been linked with somebody but he is a good professional.

"Maybe in games he's been a wee bit up and down - but he gives 100 per cent."

Source: Sky Sports

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