Injury expert names Young return date after ‘fracture’ reveal at Aston Villa
Ashley Young has a decent chance of featuring for Aston Villa in their FA Cup clash against Man United next Monday (10 December).
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Young, who re-signed for Villa from Inter Milan in the summer of 2021, has not featured since the 2-0 win over Norwich on 14 December.
Speaking in his media conference last Friday (31 December), Steven Gerrard revealed that the 36-year-old has a “little fracture in his foot”.
The manager had hoped that Young would be available for the match against Brentford last Sunday (2 December), which Villa lost 2-1.
That ultimately did not come to pass but Dinnery predicts that the FA Cup will provide Young with the perfect chance to get some minutes.
“Gerrard said he had an outside chance in the previous game,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“He just missed out and he probably wasn’t ready. This time around, it is going to be a case of pain management.
“Some clubs see the FA Cup as a hindrance but it’s a good opportunity when players are coming back like this to get some competitive football.
“He was forced off against Norwich and it will have been almost a month on the sidelines before that game against United.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets some minutes or even starts. That gives Gerrard options when it comes to the next league game too.”
Young has registered two assists in 13 appearances since his return to Villa Park.
The clash against United next Monday will be the first time he has faced his old club after his departure in January 2020.
In other news, Aston Villa in pole position to sign Philippe Coutinho ahead of Arsenal and deal could be agreed this week.