Ashley Young deserves all his praise, says Nigel Reo-Coker

May 2 2008 By Bill Howell

NIGEL Re-Coker has lavished praise on Ashley Young saying he deserves all the plaudits currently coming his way.

Young was named in the PFA Team of the Year pipping the likes of Alexander Hleb (Arsenal), Martin Petrov (Man City), Stuart Downing, (Middlesbrough) and Ryan Giggs (Man United).

Reo-Coker said: "He's improved tremendously. He's been fantastic for us and he deserves everything that's happened to him this season.

"He's one of our brightest stars. He plays with such freedom and technically he's one of the best of my generation."

Young was a shock £8million signing by Martin O'Neill last January and it is the Villa boss whom Reo-Coker sees as the real hero of the club's fine season.

"I would love to see the records of whether anyone has achieved what he has so far with the small squad that he has had", he said.