Luke Young has faith in his ability to hold on to Aston Villa first team jersey
Jan 2 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
LUKE Young insists he was always confident of fending off the challenge of Habib Beye to try and make the Villa right-back jersey his own.
Young has become a first team regular again for the past ten games after regaining his place for the 5-1 victory over Bolton in November.
But the former Middlesbrough defender had to bide his time at the start of the season following injury troubles and a family bereavement.
And it was not until Carlos Cuellar switched from right-back to central defence and Beye was suspended that Young got a look in.
Ironically, Young could be rested against Blackburn this afternoon with Martin O’Neill considering several changes for the FA Cup third round tie.
But, even if he is replaced by Beye, the 30-year-old Londoner has enough faith in his ability to try and dislodge the summer signing once again.
Asked if he was concerned about his claret and blue prospects a couple of months ago, Young admitted: “You do think that.
“But I also feel if I’m on my game I can push anyone.
“For ages it looked like I wasn’t going to get a chance and then there were a few suspensions and things so hopefully I’ve done enough to at least be in the manager’s thoughts.
“If he is thinking of changing it, then he knows he can rely on me.
“I’ve been around the game long enough to know football changes so quickly. If you keep yourself going and as fit as possible, that is the only way to get back in.
“If you don’t do things properly in training when you are out of the side, you are not going to do yourself justice if you get back in.
“I kept myself as fit as I could, did extra training and running, and when I was first called upon against Bolton, I didn’t feel too bad at all.”
Young reckons he is approaching optimum match fitness after admitting it took several games to bring him back up to speed.
“It takes a little while to get your form back, but I feel like I’m there now,” he added. “Sometimes you feel good in training and then in a match situation it is completely different. I’ve been working as hard as I can on the training pitch to get myself as fit as possible but it only comes with games.
“I feel fit now and can’t wait to try and keep myself in the side because there are so many players who can come in. At the moment it is a very united squad and everyone wants everyone else to do well.
“If Habib was playing, I’d be wanting him to do well. It is that kind of environment.”
