Aston Villa: Ashley Young says players "hungrier" than ever
Take part in live match banter with our writers at Villa v Spurs - click here to find out more
Ashley Young believes the Aston Villa players are "even hungrier" to clinch a Champions League spot after recharging their batteries in Dubai.
The England winger admitted the five-day break came at a perfect time for Martin O'Neill's squad ahead of the final 10 games of the campaign.
Villa had looked to be feeling the strain of playing competitively since mid-July because of the Intertoto Cup after a six-game sequence without a win.
But Young is confident Villa can sustain their challenge for a top-four finish, especially if they repeat their away form in front of their own fans - starting with Sunday's meeting with Tottenham.
Young said: "We've had a good break and it was needed. Since we have come back everyone has been firing in training and looking forward to the last 10 games of the season.
"We had played a lot of games. We came back early and started playing before a lot of sides so the break was ideal. Everyone is refreshed and looking forward to Sunday's game.
"It was nice to take in the sun, get in some training away from the cold of England and it has made us even hungrier now to achieve what we want.
"If everyone had said to us at the start of the season we would be in this position with 10 games to go, we would have bitten their hands off.
"We've had a brilliant season, we want to disrupt what is the normal top four and at the moment we are there. That is what we want to try and hold on to."
Young insisted the Villa players would not lose their nerve as they looked to stay ahead of Arsenal in the race for a Champions League place.
