PLAYER PROFILE

Ashley Young, A

Position: Forward

Height: 5'11

Weight: 10st 3lbs

Date of Birth: 1985-07-09 Stevenage, England

Ashley Young, A

Ashley Young is a talented striker who rose through the youth ranks at Watford to be named the Young Player of the Year in 2004/05.

His ascent has been rapid. After making just five substitute appearances in the 2003/04 season, he shot up the ranks to make a further 34 in 2004/05, before making an astonishing 41 starts in 2005/06, scoring 14 goals along the way.

During his first season in the Barclays Premiership, he played 23 times, scoring four goals. Indeed, so impressive was his form for Watford that Martin O'Neill signed him for Aston Villa for a fee of £9million in January 2007.

His first half season at Villa Park proved to be a good one as he became a regular starter.

He maintained this fine form in 2007/08, even claiming a place in the Premier League Team of the Year. He developed further in 2008/09 and became the first player to win three Player of the Month awards in one year with victories in April, October and January.