Aston Villa legend Tony Morley believes Marc Albrighton can replace Ashley Young – EPL News
Aston Villa’s legendary winger, Tony Morley, has hailed the club board’s decision to sell the want-away Ashley Young to Manchester United for £17 million and believes that the Villans’ youngster, Marc Albrighton, has all the qualities to replace the outgoing
winger at the Villa Park.
The highly-rated winger, Young, was heavily linked with a move from the Midlands club and finally joined Manchester United on a five-year contract. The 25-year-old’s contract with Aston Villa was set to expire next season and Morley believes the club did
the right business by cashing in on the winger.
“I personally think it’s a great move for Villa,” added Villa legend.
Aston Villa tried to tie down their talented winger by offering him the biggest contract in the history of the club six months ago, but the 25-year-old refused to extend his contract as he wanted to join a club who can offer him Champions League football.
He said, “To be brutally honest the writing was on the wall six months ago. They offered http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Young-c6813 the biggest contract in Villa’s history but he turned it down. I thought then he had made his mind up.”
Tony Morley feels that Aston Villa should now think beyond Young and believes that the talented winger has all the attributes necessary to replace the 25-year-old.
“And if young http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marc-Albrighton-c23470 improves in the next season or so he could well fill Ashley Young's boots out wide,” stated Morley.
Albrighton, who came through Aston Villa ranks, enjoyed a breakthrough year at Villa in the recently concluded 2010/11 season. The 21-year-old was a http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitalô-c40903 member of Gerard Houllier’s squad that finished in the top half of the table.
Moreover, the English Under-21 player was named Aston Villa’s young player of the Year for his extraordinary season at the Villa Park. Despite having less first team opportunities, Albrighton made an impressive 37 appearances for the Villans in which he
scored six goals and directly assisted six goals in all competitions.
After the departure of Young, Albrighton is likely to get more first opportunities at the Villa Park and the English midfielder undoubtedly has all the qualities to establish himself in McLeish’s starting eleven.
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