ASHLEY Young admits Villa have made the perfect pitch for him to continue enjoying his football at Villa Park.

But before the claret and blue brigade get carried away about the prospects of keeping Young beyond this season, the sought-after star is simply talking about the impeccable playing surface.

Villa groundsman Jonathan Calderwood came within a blade of grass of winning the Barclays Premier League groundsman of the year award for the second season running this week.

Manchester City’s Eastlands pitch scooped the award with Villa sharing the runners-up spot with Arsenal and Tottenham. Young believes the Villa Park surface is rightly recognised as one of the top pitches in the Premier League – and argues that it might even be the best.

“The pitch has always been fantastic and the way that he’s picked up awards just shows that,” said Young.

“We’ve always said that the job the groundsman does is fantastic. To have a pitch with so much green, you just want to go out there and play, especially when the sun’s shining – it’s even better.

“I think it’s probably up there with the best, I think the Emirates is one as well.

“There’s many grounds in the Premier League that are fantastic, but I think Jonathan’s won groundsman of the year on numerous occasions.

“He’s been doing a fantastic job, so for the players to be able to go out and play on a surface like that is great and we really enjoy it.”

Calderwood has high standards and Young revealed the players are scared of scuffing the training pitches at Bodymoor Heath for fear of upsetting the Irish turf specialist.