Young to hold talks over his Villa future

Young, scorer of England’s equaliser against Switzerland, has been strongly linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester United this summer.

He has only one year remaining on his Villa contract and wants to experience Champions League football and play in World Cups and European Championships.

Young said: “I’ve always had the belief I can play at the highest level. I’ve always had self-belief. I’ve always had the confidence I can play at the highest level.

“I want to test myself. As a kid you always want to play in the best competitions. As a kid I wanted to play in the Champions League – and hopefully one day I will.

“People say the prime of your career is aged 25, 26, 27. I’m 26 next month so hopefully I’m coming into my prime.”

Young has constantly intimated he will speak with Lerner before announcing any news about his future – and nothing has changed. He said: “I’m going away on holiday. But I said at the end of the season I was going to speak to the chairman. I’m going to talk to him this week and we’ll see where we go from there.”

Young was frustrated to be axed from the England starting line-up to face the Swiss after impressing in matches against Denmark and Wales.

He responded when brought on as a substitute for Frank Lampard by hammering the equaliser early in the second half and was chosen as the man of the match.

Young said: “I was disappointed not to start, but I wasn’t the only one. All the players on the bench want to be in the starting 11.

“I came on at half-time and grabbed it with two hands. Whenever I get the opportunity, I try to do the same thing.

“At half-time the manager told me to go out and play as I’ve been playing and as I’ve been training, and that’s what I felt I did when I came on.

“It was great to score a goal, and even nicer to get man of the match, but I’d have swapped them both for three points.”