Young to Meet with Villa Boss

Ashley Young will discuss his future with Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner this week and believes he should be playing "at the highest level" after netting England's equaliser against Switzerland at the weekend. Young, 25, has one-year remaining on his contract at Villa Park and has been linked to some of the Premier League's heavy hitters, including Manchester United. 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 at World Cups, European Championships and the Champions League. 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 careers is aged 25, 26, 27. I'm 26 next month so hopefully I'm coming into my prime.'' Young once again confirmed that he plans to speak with Lerner over the next seven days to determine his future. "I'm going away on holiday," said Young, "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.'' 

The talented winger said he was disappointed not to be included in Fabio Capello's starting line-up against the Swiss, but provided the perfect response by scoring in the second half after being brought on for Chelsea's Frank Lampard. Young was later voted Man of the Match for his performance. "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. "We found out the team in the morning and I had to get it into my head that I wasn't going to start. 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," he said.