Villa manager delighted for Young

Young (right) beat Villa team-mate Gabriel Agbonlahor to the award

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill spoke of his delight after Ashley Young was named the Professional Footballers' Association young player of the year.

Young was given the honour on Sunday as Manchester United's Ryan Giggs picked up the player of the year award.

O'Neill told the club's website: "I am absolutely delighted for Ashley, he has had a magnificent season and has come on leaps and bounds.

"His fellow professionals have made a statement - and that speaks volumes."

O'Neill added: "Gabby [Agbonlahor] deserves a mention too. I was delighted he was in the reckoning for the trophy.

"We must not forget that he kept us going by playing up front on his own for about three months."

606: DEBATE

2008 was Ashley Young's year and hopefully more to follow. Ash won player of the month three times in 2008, no other player has managed this

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Meanwhile Young, who scored his first goal of 2009 against Bolton on Saturday, praised his Villa team-mates for helping him to win the award.

"I may well have won the award but it's a team game," he said. "If the lads weren't getting the ball to me playing well and getting on the end of my crosses, I wouldn't have won this award.

"It is a massive achievement for me and shows how far my game has come on this season.

"It's massive for the club too. We haven't had just one nominee - we've had two and that's tremendous."