Crucial We Keep Young

Curtis Davies has said it is crucial that we tie Ashley Young to a longer contract, and he believes he is better than Ronaldo on his current form.

Young is in the middle of negotiations over an improved and longer term deal with Martin O'Neill at the moment and after his performance and freekick at the weekend he certainly hasn't done himself any harm on that score.

Speaking to the Evening Mail, Davies said:

"It is crucial he signs. We have managed to get a core of good English players together and if we can get Ashley to sign on for another few years that will be a massive positive, not just to the club but also the lads to know he is going to be sticking around and hopefully driving us on even more.

"Would I swap him for any other winger? Not at the moment. You could talk about Ronaldo but the way Ash plays - right or left - I don`t think anyone can cope with it when he whips balls in.

"He is one of the best players I have played with. We have got some good players here but he is our most important because he is the one who is going to make something happen.

"If we did not have Ash, we would be a different team. He means that much to us and we are doing that well, so I am sure he is good enough for England.

"He is only light but when he gets on the ball he never looks like he is going to get pushed off it."

Davies has his own international aims when it comes to Fabio Capello, as do many of our English players, but he's adamant Ash deserves a chance and should be a regular in the full squad.

"Hopefully the England manager will come to watch him a bit more and he can get back in that squad.

"He has been unlucky. He was in the first few squads and all I can say is that he is a top quality player."

It would certainly be good for Ash to get that boost of confidence, but being purely selfish I care what they do for Villa.

After seeing constant disappointments with England over the years, and apart from the Croatia result, I see very little difference under God revered Capello, I just really couldn't care.

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