Ashley Young: The Joker In Jose's Deck?

Ashley Young Is Back In Form.

When Jose Mourinho arrived at Manchester United at the start of last season, he was tasked with many things, removing the deadwood, improving the squad with quality signings, which he did by signing Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitarayan and Paul Pogba. He also had a tough challenge of improving the form of few players which he did exceptionally well. During his first year we saw the likes of Marcos Rojo fully develop into a great left back, Ander Herrera controlling the engine room of the team. Marcus Rashford got fully transformed into a winger and one of his best move was helping Phil Jones and Marouane Fellaini silence their critics. Both of the players were subject to lot of criticism right from the beginning. Jones was bantered for spending more time in the medical bay of the club than on the actual pitch and on the other hand Fellaini was blamed for conceding too many fouls and being too harsh on the pitch. However, both of these players have reached the summit of their form this season, becoming one of the most important players on the field. Jones has been on fire in the Premier League, forming a great bond with Eric Bailly, overtaking Chris Smalling as the club’s first choice centre back. Fellaini has been bossing around the pitch with his great aerial ability and physicality. The tall Belgian has been deployed many a times ahead of the strikers to finish incoming long balls and get the winning goal or just sealing the game as an impact substitute. Being Mourinho’s most trustworthy soldier, it is very likely that Fellaini will become a regular starter until Pogba arrives from a hamstring injury.

But today, the player stealing the limelight is Ashley Young. Young was signed by Sir Alex in 2011 from Aston Villa for 15 million pounds. Upon arrival, he was handed the number 18 shirt, previously worn by Paul Scholes who had just retired a while back. It was self-explanatory that Young had big boots to fill and it would not be so easy and pressure was completely on him. During that time, Young was considered one of England’s brightest talents at the age of 25 (then) many clubs were behind his signature, and eventually United beat Liverpool for his signature. Back then, he was just a versatile winger capable of playing on the left, right and occasionally in the middle of the pack as an attacking midfielder.

Soon after that started his roller-coaster career full of injuries, bad form and inconsistency after the retirement of Sir Alex. Under David Moyes, Young still played as a winger, but slowly started to get eradicated from the squad with the arrival of Juan Mata. That started a string of injuries and following David’s removal it was up to Louis Van Gaal to decide his fate. Injuries kept on coming and going, but who knew his career would take a positive turn due to Van Gaal’s gamble! Back in December 2015, during the unfortunate defensive injury crisis, when most of the team’s defense was on the treatment table, Louis played a rather surprising wildcard. Playing Ashley Young as a full back. Known for his versatility and physical awareness who knew this gamble, would just get a jackpot for Young? Having being excellent in his experimented role, making frequent runs in the attacking half and whipping in some dangerous crosses.

Young Suffered A Groin Injury In April 2017.

Young’s relation with injuries didn’t go away even with the arrival of Jose Mourinho, who is an admirer of versatile players. Knowing Young, he knew that he would be the perfect joker in his deck with abilities of a winger and a full back, or in other words a jack of all trades. The perfect utility player. Happy with his work rate, Jose made him captain against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge back in 2016, soon after a year in 2017 he was side-lined with a groin injury which ruled him out for five months, making him a member of the ‘crutch squad’ comprising of injured players, Shaw, Rojo and Zlatan. His injury made him miss the Europa League final against Ajax. However, he was still aboard the plane to USA for the 2017 pre-season tour but didn’t play due to injury. Having continued his injury rehabilitation, Ashley also featured for the reserve team this season in order to gain his fitness and confidence back.

His hard work finally bore fruit, as Young was recently selected in the starting XI against Basel in the Champion’s League opening fixture as a right back. He played exceptional and was included in the Champion’s League team of the week. That wasn’t all he once again started the Premier League tie against Everton, but this time as a left back, in which once again showed his ability by supplying the attackers with precision crosses and was also involved in the Valencia wonder goal by supplying Matic with a sublime cross which led to him heading it towards Valencia and creating that chance. In context of Valencia, we should also remember that Young is a winger made into an attacking full back like Valencia. Even though his role may be to supply crosses, support and defend, don’t be surprised if he can put the ball into the net! He is still capable of it!

Young Has Signed Consecutive Matches Against Basel And Everton.

Speaking of Jose’s newly found trust in Young, he could provide quality competition to Valencia and Blind at full back along with Darmian and Shaw waiting on his tail. Young’s versatility could also lead to him playing in his natural position of a winger in case of an injury. But in the current situation and current United style of play, Ashley is best acquainted to play as a full back with a similar role like Valencia to run forward, supply crosses and join the attack. Young is 32 now and given his age he would also add valuable experience to the team, guiding young wingers like Rashford, Martial and Lingard, particularly young Demitri Mitchell who has the similar style of play as Young and was also a winger converted into a full back, by Nicky Butt. Young has made a total of 166 appearances for United since joining in 2011, scoring a mere 14 goals in his six-year Manchester United career. He has already won a Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and a Europa League whilst United.

Could Ashley Young be the joker in Jose’s deck? Is he the wildcard for United this season? If he continues his great run of form, can he be Gareth Southgate’s wildcard for England in Russia in 2018? Which position would you play Young, on the wings or as a full back?