Villa winger Ashley Young has landed the Barclays Player of the Month for September.

Young produced a series of sparkling displays as Villa clinched three successive victories to climb the table.

The 23-year-old helped set up Nigel Reo-Coker’s opener against Tottenham at White Hart Lane and then scored the decisive second early in the second half.

Young turned in another excellent performance at West Brom a week later and supplied the cross for John Carew’s headed goal. He finished the month by curling home a free-kick in the 2-1 victory over Sunderland. Having won the same award in April, Young joins an elite group of players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard to have picked up the prize more than once.

However, his performances were not enough to earn him a place in Fabio Capello’s England squad. Meanwhile, Steve Sidwell is preparing to line up against Chelsea on Monday – but the Villa midfielder admits the chance to renew acquaintances with his former club has come a week too late.

Kevin MacDonald’s reserves head to the capital to face the Blues eight days after they swatted Villa aside with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Sidwell, who has started the season on the sidelines with calf and knee injuries, revealed he was desperate to recover in time to face the side he left to join Villa for £5.5m this summer. But after falling just short in his rehabilitation battle the former Reading man now aims to use his outing for Villa’s second string to help him get fit for the visit of Portsmouth a week today.

“Is it the one I hoped to be involved in? Of course not,” said Sidwell. “But it’s a game I’ll need. The games are there to get you fit and if the gaffer wants me to play then I’ll play.”

And Villa manager Martin O’Neill added: “We are trying to get another game arranged for next week and we also have the reserve game against Chelsea as well.”