Aston Villa: Luke Young’s move to Hull is bunkum - O’Neill

Aug 19 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill today rubbished suggestions that Luke Young will be leaving Villa for Hull and has granted the defender unlimited compassionate leave following the death of his brother.

Phil Brown is a known admirer of Young and a technical glitch on the Tigers’ official website fuelled speculation yesterday when the Villa right-back’s name was wrongly included in Hull’s squad list.

www.birminghammail.net/live tomorrow for a live Q&A with Mat Kendrick or Aston Villa writer at 1pm

But O’Neill has dismissed reports originating from Humberside that Young is set to move to the KC Stadium as an alternative to their original target Habib Beye, who chose Villa over Hull.

The Villa boss has given the grieving full-back “all the time he needs” to mourn the loss of his 17-year-old brother Andre who died in tragic circumstances on holiday in Crete last week.

Young was sidelined by a thigh injury throughout pre-season but O’Neill insists he will be an integral part of his Villa Park plans when he is emotionally and physically ready to return.

“I’ll give Luke all the time he needs,” said O’Neill.

“Obviously, it’s painful, devastating and sad and he’s asked for a little bit of time and I’ll absolutely give it to him.