Young handed third monthly award

Young won three of the nine monthly awards in 2008

Ashley Young has become the first player to win three Barclays Premier League Player of the Month awards in a year after winning December's gong.

The Aston Villa winger, 23, takes the award after scoring twice at Everton and creating the winner at Hull.

"It's a massive achievement for me, it's the third time I've won it in the calendar year," said Young.

"If I don't have the other boys out there with me I wouldn't be able to win this award."

We wanted to start this year on a high, and that's what we've done. We're not going to get ahead of ourselves, there's a lot of games left

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young

It proved to be a double celebration for Villa, as manager Martin O'Neill was named the Manager of the Month for consolidating his side's place in the Premier League's top four, with the club registering four wins and a draw in December.

"Our mentality is that we always go into every game thinking we're going to win," Young continued.

"There's no game we'll go into and change our tactics or nothing. We're always on the front foot, planning to counter-attack, and I think teams are worried by the pace we've got."

Villa are fourth going into the weekend game at Sunderland, three points clear of Arsenal in the race for a Champions League spot next season.

They have started 2009 strongly with FA Cup success at Gillingham and a league victory over West Brom.

"We wanted to start this year on a high, and that's what we've done," said Young.

"We're not going to get ahead of ourselves, there's a lot of games left."